A New Start Chapter 8, a teenage mutant ninja turtles fanfic

Authors note: Welcome back to the 8th chapter of A New Start, this is it, the last chapter of A New Start and I couldn't be happier. The story seemed to go how I wanted it to and I can't wait to start something new, while it is great to finish something, it does get harder to complete something the further you go along, but I stuck through it and have finally come to the end. To everyone who has come this far, I hope you enjoyed my story and look forward to seeing what I do next. Without further ado, happy reading and see you at the end. :)

A New Start Chapter 8

(K) "You… Are… Mine."

Raph feels the world around him slip from existence. He plunges into a world of total darkness, feeling as if he were drowning but could still breathe. It was almost as if he were floating at the bottom of the ocean, where the pressure pressed relentlessly on every part of him, stripping away his senses in an instant. He remains in this state for what feels like hours until he senses himself being yanked upwards before plummeting and slamming into the floor. Gradually, he rises onto his hands and knees, peering into the darkness; he can barely make out his own hands.

(Where the hell am I… What is this?)

"I'm delighted you asked, Raphael."

Abruptly, the room bursts into light. He instinctively shields his eyes, squinting through the pain. After a few moments, his eyes adjust, and he stares around an empty, white, endless room. Though he doesn't have a clear idea of where he is, he knows he's been here before. Slowly standing, wary of his surroundings, he attempts to move but feels an unyielding tug on his wrist. Looking down, he discovers a cuff and chain binding him to the floor. More quickly cuffs and chains follow, forming around his other wrist and both ankles, tethering him to one spot. Despite knowing it's pointless to struggle, he can't help it; he yanks on the chains, hoping they will snap, but they hold firm. He doesn't flinch when a prison cell begins to materialize around him, the bars bending and swirling, finally moulding themselves into a small cell with a giant padlock attached to the front, thus trapping him.

"Ok, what the hell is this place? I've been here before, but where the hell am I?"

"That information is solely reserved for myself, though I do want to digress, Raphael. Unlike your previous stay here, leaving will no longer be an option."

Raph attempts to voice his disagreement, but his mouth is bound shut by a simple fabric gag. The fabric feels as if it might suffocate him.

"When you are within these walls, your opinion is irrelevant. I want you to merely listen, observe, and behold as I destroy everything you love. Your emotions are inconsequential to me, though I can only speculate how you're feeling."

Kanz circles the cell slowly, his eyes locked onto Raph as if searching for something. A smirk gradually spreads across his face, growing wider with each step he takes. Pride and egocentricity are evident on his face.

"This is almost precisely how I pictured it, this very moment—although in my mind, you were writhing in anguish and showering me with curses. But fear not, that will unfold soon enough, quite soon if I may add."

Kanz twirls in excitement, struggling to contain his joy, resembling an excited child on Christmas morning. He snaps his fingers together, causing a TV to materialise in front of him. Standing before it, arms opened wide, he looks back at Raph evilly.

(So, I'm guessing he controls everything in here. This isn't going to be easy.)

"Alas, not everything, unfortunately. Your mind remains elusive to my control, much to my annoyance. You see I take control of the inner mind, it controls everything, but yours…. Yours is beyond my reach, protected by some sort of barrier, it's the first I've ever seen of such a thing. Your sensei must be very powerful. Yet it matters not. While your inner mind may be off limits, I've simply just confined you in this little cage, a prisoner in your own body."

Raph mumbles through his gag trying to throw retorts at him, but the gag remains firmly in his mouth.

"Oh, what's this? A futile attempt to engage in conversation? How amusing, though I must admit, I do miss your sassy retorts, your delusion on invincibility. Ah, what the hell."

The gag drops from Raph's mouth. He moves his face around, it feeling stiff and sore. He looks up at Kanz, frowning, anger evident in his wrinkled forehead.

(R) "You won't keep me in here."

"That would be true if your mind could even grasp how to escape. But considering you do not know how to escape. I am going to assume that you won't be leaving anytime soon. So, you'll just be stuck in here forever. Watching as I kill and destroy everything."

"Tell me something, Kanz… Out of everything and everyone you could have done this to, why me?"

"I don't feel like being sentimental, Raphael. My motives for causing you pain are devoid of all purpose, besides amusement of course. Prepare yourself, the show is starting."

Raph winces as a bright light surrounds Kanz. He closes his eyes to shield them from the pain. When he opens them, Kanz is gone, and he is alone. Bound in the prison cell, he is unsure of what to do. He doesn't even remember how he escaped this place last time. The TV then comes to life, tuning into static. Raph can't make out anything, but slowly, the static starts to clear up, and a clear image of Kanz fills the screen. Raph feels his stomach twist in anticipation, not liking where this is going.

(The hell is he playing at?)

As Raph watches, he slowly realises that the perspective he's seeing from is his own. He's watching the TV through his own eyes. Horror washes over him as his mindless body begins to move, examining itself, turning its hands back and forth, and moving its legs side to side. Though this is his body, now, it's no longer his; it's just a mindless vessel for Kanz to control.

(K) "Raphael."

Raph's body looks up and over towards Kanz, locking eyes with him.

(K) "Come here and stand beside me."

Without hesitation, he starts to walk over, standing in front of Kanz like a bodyguard. Raph can't believe what he's seeing; he's obeying Kanz, with no control, utterly helpless. He recalls the first time Kanz controlled him when he still had some resistance, but now, all he can do is watch. He yanks on his chains, trying to uproot them, but they remain firmly attached. Despite his efforts, panic sets in as the realisation of his situation sinks in. He doesn't want to believe it's happening—that he's lost all control to a crazed villain, a mindless servant at Kanz's mercy. Kanz can do whatever he wants with him.

(No… No, no, no, no, no, this can't be happening!)

From the screen, Kanz responds as if Raph had spoken directly to him. He hears everything Raph thinks and says, Kanz's voice echoes through the room and lingers in Raph's ears.

"Ah, but it is happening, and it's only going to worsen. Did you believe this was all just a trivial game? Well, wait until the true chaos unfolds, I want to see you finally realise you've lost. And when you finally figure that out… You'll see the full picture."

"You… You can hear me?"

"Crystal clear. I want to relish in your tortured screams. I want to hear you beg me to stop, only for me to do it anyway. Shall we begin?"

They both then turn and face his brothers. He and Kanz watch as his brothers are busy fighting krang droids. Mikey and Leo fend them off while trying to protect Donnie, who struggles to stand, blood still pouring from his wound.

"Raphael, retrieve the black hole weapon from them. I have intel suggesting it's on one of them, likely in the possession of Leonardo."

Raph's body moves on its own accord, zeroing in on Leo. All Raph can do is watch. As Raph approaches, Leo finally notices him. Engaged in a battle with droids, Leo doesn't have much time to grasp the situation. He's uncertain about what's happening and hesitates, unsure whether to point his weapon at Raph. Without understanding what Kanz has done, Leo narrowly evades Raph's attempt to punch him in the face. But that moment solidifies Leo's stance; he points his weapons at Raph and stands ready. Glancing at Raph's arm, Leo sighs noticing the absence of the device. He tightens his grip on his swords and holds them towards Raph ready to fight.

(D) "Leo, what's going on?"

"The device is gone, which means Raph is gone. Be on your guard. We still have 17 minutes left to go through with the plan. I'll deal with him. After all, I can take him on easily."

They stand in front of each other, eyes locked. Raph then launches himself at Leo, throwing punches. Leo dodges the attacks and uses the dull edge of his sword to block them. Raph is relentless in his attacks, barely giving Leo any time to fight back. Picking up on this, Leo goes on the offensive. They spar for about a minute, and Raph notices that Leo is slowly starting to struggle against his attacks. However, the brutal assault only gets worse when Raph pulls at his Sai and lunges at him. Sparks go flying as the metal weapons strike each other, a loud shrieking sound ringing out from their clashing weapons. Raph lands blows with such force that Leo can barely block them.

"Raph, I know you're in there. Snap out of it, you jerk!"

Raph doesn't even flinch at Leo's remark. He continues ruthlessly attacking, years of training and fighting converging into one relentless assault. Raph stands in his cell, observing it all unfolding on the TV as if watching a movie. From Leo's movements alone, Raph can sense he's struggling.

"How can he be struggling… Leo always kicks my ass, not that I want to admit that."

(K) "Hmm, why might that be, Rahael? Have you not figured it out yet? Allow me to enlighten you. Unlike Leonardo, you are no longer held back by restraints. Free of any and all burdens, free to fight however you please—no moral code, no relationships. You are completely void of it all, and that makes you the perfect killing machine."

Raph finally understands. His body is fighting with no restraints. He's trying to kill Leo, but Leo isn't trying to kill him. That's how sensei had raised them—not to kill with their martial arts, but to do enough to win. However, now that Raph's body is mindless and devoid of those life lessons, it doesn't care about the consequences. It doesn't discriminate; it just wants to kill. And Raph's bottled-up anger surely isn't helping matters. Then something dawns on Raph. He had always assumed that over the years of sparring with his brothers or fighting for real, he was giving his all, pouring every part of himself into the battle. But this mindless fighting with Leo makes him realise. He wasn't even close. He now understands that he was subconsciously, without even realising it, holding back his attacks and strength against his brothers. And as he watches in horror, he sees his brother—the one they had always admired for being better—begin to lose against him.

"I was… Limiting myself?"

Kanz's smug voice fills Raph's ears, mocking and condescending. He talks down to Raph as if he were nothing but a pathetic nobody.

"Surely you didn't fail to realise. Did you truly believe that someone of your calibre would succumb to the likes of him, with his arrogance and self-righteousness? Disappointing, Raphael. But now, unburdened by any restraints, you have the opportunity to wipe that smug grin off your brother's face. You can finally prove your superiority and demonstrate your unmatched prowess. Do you not understand? This is the gift I offered you—freedom from the constraints of your brother's, a straight path to the road of unparalleled power. So now I want you to watch the embodiment of true strength, what it is like to be free of all limitations."

Raph watches as he begins to overpower Leo. Though Leo is talented, well-trained, and the most skilled among the brothers, Raph unquestionably holds the title for raw strength and endurance. As Raph clamps down on Leo's swords with his Sai, he steadily pushes Leo to his knees, easily overwhelming him. In a desperate move, Leo releases one of his swords, causing it to slip from Raph's grip due to the sudden pressure loss. Seizing the moment, Leo snatches his falling sword and swings it at Raph without hesitation, fully committing to the attack. However, the move is short-lived. Raph sees his brother's face pale in shock as he, in one swift motion, grabs the blade of Leo's sword. The blade cuts deeply into Raph's hands, causing them to bleed profusely down his arms and onto the floor.

(L) "Wha...?"

Raph then moves in close to Leo and menacingly whispers into his ear.

"Even with everything you've got, even with no hesitation… You still lost to someone like me. pathetic."

Raph yanks the sword from Leo's hand and throws it over the edge. Leo tries to stand, but Raph punches him in the face as hard as he can, causing Leo to stumble onto his back. Raph then grabs Leo by his neck and slams his head into the floor, leaving Leo disorientated. Raph then kicks Leo's other sword from his hand and pulls him along by his bandana. He forces Leo onto his knees in front of Kanz, treating him like a mere peasant compared to Kanz. Krang droids take over from Raph, holding Leo down and painfully securing his arms behind his back. Raph reaches into Leo's belt and retrieves the black hole gun. Leo watches on helplessly, blood running down his face, as Raph hands the device over to Kanz. With a horrifying smile spreading across his face, Kanz grips the device tightly.

(L) "Raph… Why? I know you can't… But…"

Leo then looks over at Kanz, his head still spinning from the trauma.

"What did you do to my brother? He's never fought like that before."

(K) "It's called power. Can't you see that you've been hindering Raphael from reaching his true potential? Perhaps you believed he was exerting himself just now, but in truth, all those morals and life lessons you had him believe were merely chains, constraining him from his true potential. I commend you, Raphael. No, I'm impressed. With your brother's no longer here, nothing can stop you from going beyond your limits. You'll become a formidable weapon in my arsenal."

(L) "Those so-called useless life lessons and morals are what keep us grounded as heroes. If we didn't have those… We would end up like something like you… A monster is the perfect word to describe you."

Leo then glares up at Kanz, his eyes cold and unforgiving.

(L) "I know what you've done… And I know what you are."

Suddenly, Mikey and Donnie are plopped down next to Leo. Mikey and Leo seem to be fine, but Donnie's wounds are still bleeding, and he seems to be on the verge of passing out. Kanz strolls back and forth in front of them, examining them, taunting them with the weapon, holding it in front of their faces. Finally, he stands in front of Leo, smashing the device to the floor and crushing it with his foot. The three brothers look on in horror as their one chance to stop Kanz is gone, destroyed right in front of them. Raph looks over to Leo, half expecting to see him distraught, but all he sees is pure rage—a look that has never crossed Leo's face before. Kanz follows Raph's gaze and smiles upon seeing Leo's furious expression.

"Oh, Leonardo, whatever could be wrong?"

Leo remains silent, biting his tongue.

"Not much for conversation, are you? No matter. Your silence is inconsequential. Now, let's focus on the task at hand. How long until my portal is operational once more?"

A krang walks up beside Kanz and pulls out a weirdly shaped tablet.

"The portal will be completed in a timely manner, which is 9 minutes."

"Good grief, that long, why do I keep you pathetic morons around? And why did we even bother with such a feature? Regardless, it matters little now. It's time for me to have some fun and enjoy some entertainment. Bring in the… Guest."

Raph stands in his cell, unable to process what just happened. He starts yanking on his chains again, using the wall to try and pull them free, but they remain attached. The metal is thick and strong; no mere pulling will break them.

(K) "Raphael, continue tugging on those chains, and you'll only provoke me more. Don't make me gag you again; I wouldn't want to miss out on hearing your anguish."

(D) "You can talk to Raph?"

"I can. He's rather displeased at the moment, much like little Leonardo here, but that doesn't mean I'm fond of it. He's rather annoying at best. You see, he's still sort of conscious; he witnesses everything, but he's too powerless to stop it. So, he's going to hate what I make him do next."

(M) "So, he can hear us?"

"Yes, but what's truly important is that he can hear and witness your agonising screams as I force him to carve you open and bring forth your impending death. Quite exhilarating, isn't it?"

Kanz giggles under his breath, clearly relishing in the suffering of others. Raph then hears struggling coming from behind him, and straight away from the voice, he knows who it is. After a few seconds, Liz finally comes into view, being dragged along by a barrage of Krang droids.

(M) "Liz… Are you ok?"

The droids throw her onto the floor, she looks up at Mikey and nods, smiling sadly.

"Isezas, how delightful of you to join us. Although I'm certain you'd prefer to be elsewhere, I felt it only appropriate for you to reunite with your filth before your impending death."

"I normally wouldn't be willing."

"Oh, that's fine. Cause everyone else here isn't willing either."

Liz looks over at Raph and frowns sadly.

"I failed you, Raphael. I failed you all. We've lost."

(K) "Oh, spare me the theatrics. Your feeble little device wouldn't have stood a chance against me."

"I had to do something."

"Well, whatever it was, it proved to be utterly ineffective. It pretty much disintegrated in my grasp."

Kanz walks around, staring at the brothers and then at Raphael.

"Hmm… I'm torn on who I want Raphael to off first. Perhaps the weakest, which right now would mean Donatello."

Raph tugs harder at his chains, using the bars of his cell to help pull himself, hoping the chains would snap.

(K) "Ha, it seems Raphael isn't too fond of that idea."

(R) "I'll fucking kill you if you lay a finger on my brothers!"

Kanz grabs Raph by the face and stares into his eyes.

"I won't be the one laying a finger on them; that privilege is all yours. I'll ensure you tear them apart, subject them to the worst torment anyone could comprehend, forcing you to be nothing but a husk of your former self. And when that's all concluded, I'll tear your brain apart until you're nothing but a pitiful, hollow shell."

Kanz walks away from Raph and snaps his fingers, signalling for the droids to bring Donnie forward. They drag him along the floor as he is no longer strong enough to walk or stand.

"We'll start with something straightforward, Raphael. He's defenceless, so it won't be overly agonising when you end him. Well, at least not for you. For him, on the other hand…"

Kanz snaps his fingers again, and the droids bring him a table, which holds a single rolled-up satchel. He unrolls the satchel, and a bunch of weapons are laid out in front of him.

(K) "Now then, let's proceed. Choose a good one, Raphael."

Raph approaches the table without hesitation, but panic soon sets in. There's no way Kanz would make him do this, right? His hand hovers over the table as he surveys the options: swords, knives, meat cleavers, and various other weapons. After a few seconds, he picks up a Santoku, holding it firmly as he turns to show Kanz. Kanz gasps proudly, like a father admiring his son's achievements, but his brothers and Liz react quite differently. They are filled with horror and anxiety, terror consuming them as they struggle to comprehend what's happening.

(L) "Raph, I know you can hear us. You must fight this."

(K) "AHHH! Are you all blind? He can't move without my command. He's mine; I control his every action, and all he can do is watch. Do you have any idea how many beings I've subjected to this, and how many have tried to save them, tried to prompt them to resist? Well, they can't. So, scream at him all you want, but he's going to slaughter you all, one by one. And I'll save you for last, Leonardo, just so you can witness it firsthand. I want to relish in your gradual descent into despair, to watch you break."

Kanz then turns back to his droids and frowns.

"How much longer until my portal is operational? You're really irritating me with how long this is taking."

"The portal, which we are fixing, will be completed in…."

Kanz then waves at them to shut up and runs a hand over his face, annoyed.

"You know what, just shut the hell up. I don't care how long is left; just fix my damn portal!"

The droids then walk off. Kanz stares back at Raph and smiles.

"Ok stabbing time, Donatello awaits. Let's get this underway."

Raph strides towards Donnie, the blade's edge grazing his fingers. Holding it firmly, he kneels just inches from his brother, running the back of the knife down Donnie's face. Standing in his cell, Raph gazes at Donnie, who meets his stare with terror-filled eyes, tears welling up. Despite it all, Donnie manages a sad smile, a glimmer of kindness trying to shine through the fear.

"You know, Raph, we had a good run. I knew eventually we'd run out of luck. It's only logical. But I guess all that needs to be said is… See you later.

Raph lifts the blade high above his head, his eyes locked on Donnie. In his cage Raph's screams are fuelled by rage, he slams against the bars of his cells, desperation tainting his voice.

"NO, PLEASE! DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS, KANZ, YOU DAMN BASTARD! NO, PLEASE!"

Raph's grip tightens on the blade as he swings it down towards Donnie, only to halt abruptly at the sound of Kanz's voice.

(K) "Stop."

The blade freezes mere inches from Donnie's neck, Raph stares down at him, a mixture of relief and guilt flooding his mind. Slowly, he straightens himself up, meeting Kanz's gaze with a silent question in his eyes. Kanz smirks while causally draping his arm around Raph's shoulder, while his brothers and Liz watch on, bewildered by the unfolding scene. Donnie releases a shaky sigh, relieved he's still breathing and alive.

"You truly believed I'd grant you such mercy, Raphael? No, I demand more from you than mere observation. I want you to be an active participant, to feel every ounce of it. Thus, I shall bestow upon you the twisted pleasure of reclaiming control of your own body, somewhat. Rather than existing as this… Emotionless husk. This way, I can enjoy your oh-so-sweet facial expressions as you mercilessly kill your flesh and blood."

With another snap of his fingers, Raph felt a strange tingling sensation coursing through his body. When he blinks and opens his eyes, he finds himself back in control. He sees the knife in his hand and frowns angrily. Gripping the knife tightly, he immediately turns around to face Kanz and attempts to stab him, only for Kanz to shout "Stop!" and freeze him in place. His brothers and Liz are shocked by his actions, they had just assumed he was just a mindless zombie but now they know that's not the case.

"You truly believed that feeble attempt was going to work, Raphael? My, how little you've learned. Guess, you'll need some more lessons."

Kanz smirks, before turning Raph back around to face his brother's. Forcing Raph to look at each and every one of them.

"Just look at them, Raphael. They seem rather unafraid of you, but I'll remedy that soon enough. Now go and slaughter…"

"No."

"Excuse me?"

Raph turns around so his back is facing his brothers and he stands his ground firmly, gripping the knife so tightly that his knuckles turn white.

"You can do anything to me, you can torture me for the rest of my life, you can use me as your servant until the day I die, but please… Just leave my brothers alone. Let them go, and I'll stay here."

"Are you… Begging me?"

Raph's brothers look at him in utter disbelief, they had never seen Raph in such a state of desperation. Throughout all the years they'd lived together, not once had Raph exhibited such a profound sense of desperation.

"I'm begging you, pleading with you… I'll get down on my knees if I have to… Please!"

With his back turned to his brothers, tears stream down his face, his voice cracking with emotion. His brothers are taken aback by his display, struggling to comprehend the depth of his desperation. Yet Raph knows, deep down, that Kanz is dead serious. If his pleas fall on deaf ears, he will become a murderer. He can't let that happen. So, he tries again, begging and pleading, his voice trembling with fear and pure desperation.

"I am begging you, please. Don't make me do this. I'll do anything else, anything… Just spare my brothers from this."

Raph waits in hope, believing his pleas might sway Kanz. But instead of empathy or understanding, all he receives from Kanz is his chilling laughter, dripping with venomous mockery and a merciless tone. His heart sinks as the realisation slowly dawns on him—It's over. His brother's fates are sealed. He's lost.

"Oh, Raphael, you're so painfully naïve. I'm not asking; it's happening, whether you comply willingly or not. But let's begin with something easier, shall we? Kill Isezas.

"Wh… What? No. Please, don't do this!"

"Go ahead. Do it."

Raph's body tenses, his mind consumed by disbelief and horror. With surprisingly steady hands, he turns towards Liz, the knife still tightly gripped. Their eyes meet, and an unspoken understanding passes between them. Liz's expression shifts between sadness and disbelief, but the fear and anguish hiding behind her face leaves no room for doubt—She's terrified. Tears stream down Raph's face, a silent apology to Liz, a display of agony that's tearing him apart from the inside. He struggles to find the words, to convey the depth of his torment, and his festering resentment towards himself.

"Liz, I… I'm…"

Before he can even continue, Liz's lips curve into a sad smile, a silent acknowledgment of the unbearable truth they both face.

"I don't blame you. For what you are about to do… You're a good person, Raphael. Please remember that."

Raph's hands tremble as he grips the knife, his heart heavy with the weight of his actions. With a swift and brutal motion, he drives the blade into her side, causing her to produce a gut-wrenching scream. Ignoring her cries, he continues to stab relentlessly, each strike sending waves of agony through her body. Her screams gradually fade into gurgles of blood-filled sounds, and with each stab, blood sprays in all directions, coating Raph's face in her blood, a mask of crimson. His brothers sit frozen in horror, unable to comprehend the nightmare unfolding before their eyes. As minutes drag on, Raph's actions become more chaotic, his mind consumed by primal rage.

Raph stares down at Liz's lifeless body, crumpled in a pool of her blood. Her already small figure is seemingly even smaller now, so tiny and helpless. The sight tugs at Raph's heart, sending tremors through his already trembling hands. Slowly, control returns to his body, and with a shudder, he drops the blood-soaked knife and sinks to his knees before her. The weight of guilt presses down on him, draining his face of colour, leaving only horror and disgust behind. He could feel the weight of guilt pushing down on him, his face drained of all colour, leaving only horror and disgust behind. For moments that stretch into eternity, he remains there, kneeling in silent anguish, his gaze fixed on her lifeless body. With trembling hands, he attempts to wipe the blood from his face, but it seems endless, his hands forever tainted with her blood. As Kanz slowly approaches, he stares down at Raph with a menacing smile, then casually picks up Liz's corpse and tosses it over the edge of the wall like trash. This pushes Raph past his limit. He angrily clenches his fists so tightly his knuckles turn white, then releases a torrent of rage and defiance towards Kanz.

"You dammed bastard! You absolute monster… I'll kill you!"

(K) "No, you won't. We're far from finished here… Not even close. Remember the full picture."

Raph stands to his feet shakily, his whole body shaking with pure anger.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY ABOUT THIS 'FULL PICTURE', I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT! AND I DIDN'T WANT THIS, THIS DIDN'T NEED TO HAPPEN, YOU'RE A MONSTER, YOU KEEP SPREADING YOUR BULLSHIT, YOU FUCKING BASTARD, if it's the last thing I do I'll kill you."

Kanz only smirks at Raph's comments, continuing to laugh and mock him. Suddenly, he takes control of Raph's body, turning to him with a cocky smile, taunting him further.

"Huh, you still have some spunk left in you. No matter, by the time we reach Leonardo, you'll be a hollow shell. And Raphael, everything you're feeling is fake, you don't care about them, you never have. So I am just trying to liberate you from the need to conceal your true emotions, allow them to surface by themselves."

Raph clenches his fists; he's seething with rage but unable to do anything about it.

"Now that Liz is out of the equation, let's return our focus to Donatello… Oh, look at him, barely clinging to life. He's practically on death's doorstep already."

Raph's gaze shifts to Donnie, his heart sinking at the sight of his injured brother. Donnie is breathing heavily, having lost a lot of blood, his complexion pale as he struggles to even stay upright.

(M) "Donnie, just hold in there, bro."

"Well, Raphael, this should be a piece of cake for you. He's not going to put up a fight."

"Please, I'm…"

"Begging, Raphael? Oh, come now, did that strategy work for Isezas? And what happened to all that rage? Do you truly believe being agreeable with me, will alter my decision? It wouldn't be fair to stop now, and besides, I'm eager to witness your downfall. Take this knife and end him… Now."

Raph slowly retrieves the knife from the floor and approaches Donnie. Without a moment's hesitation or any words exchanged, Raph thrusts the blade into Donie's leg, dragging it down and slicing open his flesh, causing torrents of blood to spill from his already weakened body. Donnie's screams echo through the walls as tears fall down his face. Helplessly, Leo and Mikey watch on as Raph then drives the knife into Donnie's shoulder. Donnie grasps the blade, attempting to pull it out, but Raph merely stands tall and delivers a forceful kick to Donnie's face. With a sickening thud, Donnie collapses onto his back, writing in agony, terror etched across his features as he gazes up at Raph. Blood pooling around him, Donnie lies on the floor, his strength fading away, his pain unbearable. Raph is unmoved by this, even though his mind is screaming in anguish, he observes everything around him, his bloodied hands, the blood that falls from the knife and onto the floor, and the warmth it leaves behind. After a brief moment, Donnie lays his head down, consumed by excoriating pain and the inevitable end, the crimson pool spreads around him and across the floor, reaching Raph's feet.

"Ah, so you're content standing idly by and watching him slowly bleed out. That's delightfully twisted, Raphael… I like it. If that's your idea of entertainment, then by all means, proceed. But before you do, is there anything you wish to say to him?"

Raph's mind draws a blank as he stares down at Donnie's weakened body, horror coursing through him for what he's done. Yet, despite himself, his mouth moves, and words spill out, shocking even him.

"You were always supposed the be the brains, right? Look where that got you. You strutted around like you were better than us because you were smart. Truth is, you were a dead weight, a drain on our resources. You brought nothing to the table. We'd be better off without you. I don't need your tech or you to win."

Raph recoils at his own words, then whirls around to face Kanz, his expression pure horror.

"I didn't mean any of that. Why did I say that? Why are you doing this to me?"

"Oh, but you did mean it. That was your subconscious surfacing, revealing your true desires. Deep down, you harbour those sentiments, yet you dare not acknowledge them openly. I merely help you bring them to light."

"You're lying! You're a liar! I CARE FOR MY BROTHERS, THEY'RE MY FAMILY."

"Ah, but you won't say you love them, will you? You're too proud for such sentimentality. And the mere fact that your subconscious entertains such ideas about your friends and family, is evidence that you're secretly relieved they'll be soon gone. You'll finally be unshackled, liberated from the weight of their presence, able to perceive the full picture."

Turning back to Donnie, Raph observes as blood continues to flow out of Donnie's wounds, staining the entire floor. Donnie's lifeless body is drenched in his blood, his face frozen in agony as he continues to bleed out. Leo and Mikey are held off to the side, forced to watch. After a minute or two, Donnie stops breathing, his body going limp, his face falling into an emotionless and dead expression.

(M) "Don… Donnie… Donnie, are you ok?"

Mikey's face is soaked in tears as he tries to reach out for Donnie, but the droids restrain him. Leo's stoic façade barely covers his anguish as Mikey cries out in sorrow. A sinister grin spreads across Kanz's face as he gestures for Mikey to be brought forward. Despite Leo's futile attempts to intervene, the droids forcibly place Mikey before Raph. Mikey's eyes widen in terror as he locks eyes with Raph, who still clutches the blood-stained knife, his hands stained crimson with his own blood and the blood of Donnie and Liz somewhere in the mix.

"Now, onto Mikey. This may prove more challenging, as he's capable of fighting back. But I have full confidence you'll overpower him effortlessly. Have fun, Raphael, because I certainly will."

The droids release their grip on Mikey, and he gazes up at Raph, uncertainty clouding his expression. Throughout their childhood and early teens, Mikey has always harboured a deep fear of Raph, and in this moment, that fear resurfaces. Leo's frantic shouts urging Mikey to run echo in his ears, and with a surge of adrenaline, Mikey stumbles away, desperately trying to put distance between himself and his brother. A snide laugh escapes Raph's lips as he watches Mikey's feeble attempt to escape, his confidence beaming from his menacing smile, his face dripping with a seething urge to kill. He knew he was faster than Mikey and would easily catch him. And with a sudden burst of energy, he chases Mikey down like a predator closing in on its prey, a fox chasing a feeble rabbit. It doesn't take Raph long to close the distance, seizing Mikey by his arm and violently yanking him back. With a chilling ease, Raph crush Mikey's lower right leg, the sound of the snapping bone echoes through the wall and the air fills with Mikey's agonising screams, piercing through the silence like a razor blade. Horrified by the raw anguish in Mikey's cry, Raph almost snaps out of Kanz's control. He had never heard Mikey make such a sound, and it sent shivers down his spine. Tears stream down Mikey's face as he attempts to flee, he stumbles onto his one leg and tries to run, but it's short-lived as Raph kicks it out from underneath him, causing him to crash down and land on his leg. His screams pierce through the air again, Raph's heart heavy with guilt and disgust with himself. But despite this, he grabs Mikey by the belt and drags him back towards Kanz. With a forceful throw, Raph hurls Mikey to the ground at Kanz's feet. Mikey screams in fear as Raph grabs onto his shell and begins to send blow after blow down onto his face, the sound of each strike echoing through the walls. After what feels like an eternity, Raph finally stops, dropping Mikey to the ground, his features distorted by pain and suffering and his face barely recognisable. Mikey lies there, gasping for breath, his body battered and bruised. With a heavy heart, Raph lifts Mikey from the ground and begins to drag him towards the edge of the wall, a sense of dread settling over him as he approaches the edge.

(L) "Raph, please, don't do this. I know you can fight it."

But when Raph speaks, it's as if another force is controlling his words.

"You're naïve, Leo. I'm not being forced into this. I'm not a puppet on strings. I'm choosing this, and I'm enjoying every second of it. Mikey was nothing but a nuisance, and I should make his demise more excruciatingly painful. But throwing him off this wall will suffice."

"You don't mean that. I know you don't."

Kanz's smirk widens as he watches, relishing in the chaos he's created. Raph reaches the edge of the wall, holding Mikey out over the edge, and despite the horrific state of his brother's face. Mikey's terror-stricken eyes lock onto Raph's, a silent plea for mercy. At that moment, Raph's heart shatters as he realises the truth in Kanz's words—his brothers see him as a monster now. With a broken and destroyed heart, Raph releases Mikey and watches helplessly as his brother's body plummets to the ground below, the impact shattering him to pieces. As control returns to him, Raph staggers backwards, horror washing over him like a tidal wave. He collapses to the ground, bile rising in his throat as he cries out in despair.

"NO! WHY… GOD, WHY?!"

Raph turns onto his hands and knees and weakly crawls away from the edge wailing in sorrow, he's in a completely helpless state, he and Leo make eye contact. Leo is still relatively emotionless, and Raph is a complete and utter mess. Raph tries to speak but all he sees are images of what he's done and throws up, he's a murderer.

"I… I killed them! My own brother's."

(K) "Yeah, you did. And it was fucking awesome. I never imagined you had it in you, even if you didn't have a choice. Watching you hurl your little brother off the edge like that? Fucking sick!"

"I'll kill you. I swear I'll fucking… You… One day… You'll fucking regret everything you ever made me do!"

Turning his gaze to Kanz, Raph's eyes burn with pure hatred. Kanz is taken aback by the intensity of Raph's glare, momentarily at a loss for words.

(R) "I'll fucking end you."

Their eyes lock in a tense standoff until Kanz regains his composure with a smug smirk.

"Now, for the final and most crucial act. Just one more step before the grand revelation and the full picture."

Kanz turns his attention to Leo, but instead of anguish all Kanz finds is Leo's stoic face.

"You can pretend all you want, Leonardo. But I know you're suffering. Witnessing your brother slaughter your other siblings must have been agonising. Especially Mikey's death… I mean that was just brutal to watch."

(L) "I have nothing to say to you."

"Ah, attempting to maintain a façade of bravery and stoicism, are we? Not to worry, Raphael will deal with you in due time. That said, Raphael, please proceed."

Raph rises, defeated, he knows he's lost, and he knows he's helpless. With heavy steps, he approaches Leo, the same knife still gripped tightly in his hand. The droids release Leo, but he remains on his knees, facing Raph with a calm expression.

"Do what you need to, Raph. You'll see the full picture."

Raph is taken aback by Leo's composed demeanour, his confusion evident.

"Leo, I'm sorry… You know I wouldn't do this."

"I know. But you'll understand when you see the full picture."

As Raph pauses, grappling with Leo's cryptic words, Leo begins to speak again.

(R) "Wait… What did you say?"

"you'll see the fu…"

Leo doesn't even have a chance to finish his sentence before Raph's blade slices through his neck without warning. Blood gushes from the gash, as Leo's body staggers in pain. Despite his efforts to maintain a calm composure, the agony and terror in Leo's eyes betray him. Struggling to speak amidst the gurgling of his blood, Leo collapses to the ground, the life draining rapidly from his throat. Raph watches on with chilling detachment, his voice betraying him, both void of emotion and callose as he delivers his next words unwillingly.

"I don't want to hear your damn heroic babble! That's all you ever did, Leo—just talk. Always with your plans, your damn moral high ground. Half the time, taking out the bad guys swiftly would've been the smart move. But no, you were too busy trying to please Master Splinter, following his orders like a lapdog, while the rest of us cleaned up after you. You didn't give a damn about anything else. Honour, respect? What a load of crap! LOOK WHERE THAT GOT YOU. THE BAD GUYS TRIUMPED IN THE END. I WON BECAUSE I OUTSMARTED YOU. YOU FOUGHT AND LOST. YOU EVEN TRIED TO TAKE ME DOWN EARLIER, THINKING I WAS BOUND BY SOME DAMN MORAL CODE AS IF EVERYONE IS. WELL, NEWS FLASH, I WASN'T. AND NOW, HERE YOU ARE, LYING IN A POOL OF YOUR OWN BLOOD. A PATHETIC FAILURE. YOU LET DOWN YOUR BROTHERS, SPLINTER, EVERYONE. You're not a hero. You're a goddamn loser!"

Leo's eyes well up with a single tear, his expression reflecting the weight of Raph's words. He had already harboured the knowledge of his failure but hearing it from his own brother's lips only solidified it in his mind… He was a pathetic failure. Slowly, horror dawns on Leo as he realises the severity of his wound. Clutching at his throat, he attempts to stop the flow of blood, but it's already too late. And with a final, desperate gasp, Leo's eyes go cold and close, his body going limp. Raph remains rooted in his spot, his gaze fixed on his brother. The full weight of his actions crushes him, rendering him motionless and numb.

"You've done it. Remarkable. I must say, I'm impressed."

Kanz applauds slowly, his arm encircling Raph's shoulder. Raph turns to face Kanz, his eyes clouded with trauma and anguish.

"Frankly, I anticipated more resistance from you. But you simply… Just gave in and carried out my demands."

Raph is speechless, his mind empty. He feels hollow, a shell of who he used to be, just as Kanz had said would happen. He looks at Leo's and Donnie's corpses, memories of his acts against them all flooding his mind. He murdered them all, and they were all gone in an instant, because of him.

"You… The full picture."

Raph's frustration then comes boiling back, his confusion and anger reaching their breaking point. He grabs Kanz by the shoulders and violently shakes him.

"What!?"

"The full picture."

"I don't understand what that means! Why do you all keep saying that."

"The full picture."

Raph starts to get angry and grabs Kanz tighter.

"I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS!"

Raph then thinks back, he has heard those three words or similar words so many times and didn't even realise it. What do they even mean, he thinks back to all the times he's heard it.

"A villain never gives away his plan, if only you could see the big picture, Raphael."

"Perhaps not, but you still can't see the full picture, can you?"

"I AM DONE, DONE PLAYING GAMES, I DON'T EVEN CARE IF THE PORTAL OPENS AT THIS POINT, I JUST WANT ONE OF YOUR BROTHERS DEAD, AND YOU ARE GOING TO DO IT! I told you Raphael, the full picture."

(K) "No, you won't. We're far from finished here… Not even close. Remember the full picture."

"Now, for the final and most crucial act. Just one more step before the grand revelation and the full picture."

"Do what you need to, Raph. You'll see the full picture."

"I know. But you'll understand when you see the full picture."

Raph's voice trembles with confusion and fear as he grapples with the surreal events unfolding around him.

(R) "Why do you all keep saying that, why? I don't understand, what full picture? This doesn't make any sense."

The world around him begins to disintegrate and shake, crumbling into chaos as the sky falls apart and reality warps beyond recognition. He feels like he's being pulled into a place he doesn't belong, a place where nothing makes sense.

"What is happening? What the hell is happening?"

Then, as suddenly as it began, the shaking subsided. Raph cautiously raises his head, only to find himself alone amidst the ruins of what is left. Kanz, the droids, and even the bodies of his brothers, all vanished without a trace, leaving behind nothing.

"What the fuck is happening to me?"

(Li) "Haven't you figured it out".

Raph's heart skips a beat as he turns to locate the source of the voice, his mind racing. As he spins around, his stomach sinks into a deep pit. Before him stands Liz's corpse, her body mangled from stab wounds and the fall from the wall.

"WHAT THE FUCK!"

Raph falls over his own feet and onto his ass, he stares up at Liz's corpse horrified, his entire body shivering in fear.

"How… How the fuck is that possible!?"

"You still haven't figured it out, have you?"

"Wh… What the hell do you mean?"

(D) "You're losing it."

Raph whirls around and finds Donnie's corpse standing there, he quickly turns back around but Liz's corpse is gone. He recoils in confusion and faces Donnie desperate for answers. He feels disgusted and traumatised as Donnie's corpse slowly starts to walk towards him. He rises to his feet and slowly backs away.

"What the fuck is happening? What is happening to me? Why is this happening, I don't understand."

(D) "You're losing it… But it's ok."

(M) "Yeah, dude just chill."

Raph whirls around and sees Mikey's corpse right in his face. Mikey is by far the worst; his leg still broken and his face unrecognisable.

"Oh my god, Mikey I'm so sorry."

"It's chill dude. Doesn't matter."

"…The hell you mean it doesn't matter. How are you even alive? How are any of you alive?"

(L) "We're not".

Raph spins around and faces Leo, he looks at Leo's neck. His throat was still cleanly sliced open, blood pouring from it still. And yet he talks like nothing has happened like he's completely fine.

"What do you mean you're not? I killed you guys, I'm a murderer."

"Raph… Think. Look. Understand what is happening around you."

Leo and Raph lock eyes with each other and stare deeply at each other. Raph can feel himself losing it, his mind becoming fried from everything.

"The fuck are you saying? I don't understand."

"What's there not to understand… Don't you get it?"

"…Get what? Enough with the fucking riddles and questions, just tell me what's happening!"

(Li) "We can't."

Liz appears next to Leo, their corpses staring down at him emotionless.

"What do you mean you can't, why is this happening to me?"

"If we tell you, then you'll never leave. Never see the full picture."

"WHAT PICTURE? YOU'RE NOT SHOWING ME ANYTHING!"

(D) "We don't mean a literal picture."

Donnie then appears as well, standing beside both Leo and Liz.

"We mean for you to think back to the very beginning."

"The very beginning of what? OF WHAT? YOU'RE NOT MAKING SENSE!"

(M) "Dude the beginning of all of this."

His four victims are now in front of him, all still mangled from his attacks against them. He stares at their corpses, as they talk to him like nothing is wrong and they're in perfect shape.

"I'm so sorry."

Leo slaps him forcefully, showing that they aren't just hallucinations.

(L) "Focus, forget about us. Forget about what you did to us, you need to remember."

"I don't… Understand?"

(Li) "When did this all start? When did this adventure start? When think. Think back and remember."

Raph thinks back, he goes through everything, every conversation, action, and event that has led up to this very moment.

"I… The ship with the bugs, we found a krang ship."

(D) "Keep going."

"One of them bit me and then I ran into Kanz. We chatted, and he told me about the bugs, and when I went to leave, he didn't stop me… He let me leave and then, I got back to the lair and tried to take the bug out of my arm. When I did… I passed out and woke up in the white room and then… I talked to Kanz."

Raph looks up at his brothers and Liz, they're watching him.

"Why is any of this even important, it doesn't mean anything."

(L) "How did you wake up after you talked to Kanz?"

"I don't know I just… Woke up."

(Li) "How?"

"THE HELL DO YOU MEAN HOW!?"

(D) "They mean what happened right before you did. Think carefully."

Raph rattles his traumatised brain and tries to think, he plays the scenario over in his mind. It then comes to him, and he looks up at them.

"He… Snapped his fingers… Why does that matter?"

They all stare silently at him, waiting for him to finally understand. Then the full reality of his situation comes crashing down on him.

"Wait… Is this all? Are you telling me none of this… Is?

(L) "Real."

(R) "None of this is… Real?

(D) "You finally figured it out."

"WAIT NO, that can't be true. How is that true."

(M) "Dude, how did you think Kanz always seemed to know where you were, even though you had the device on? He was messing with you.'

(R) Wait so, none of this has been real, the battle, the talking of the plans, us taking down the guns, trying to disarm the portal, everything!"

(L) "You never even woke up."

"So, what? I'm like dead… What… There's no way, I woke up in Donnie's lab."

(D) "But you didn't. You're still in the white room, you never woke up."

"No. No, you're lying. I'm tripping or something."

(Li) "Why lie? We're already dead in your mind, you just need to accept it and you can go."

"Accept what? THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE; I'M TALKING TO YOUR CORPSES."

"Exactly. So, how can this be real? You need to accept that everything after you woke up was never real, that the true reality of your world ended when you passed out."

"No… There's no way."

(Li) "And yet you're standing here talking to the corpses of your brothers, and Kanz is nowhere to be seen. This was all a ploy to keep your inner mind busy while Kanz used you to do his dirty work in the real world, so you wouldn't fight against his control."

Raph's mind slowly ticks over, trying to process the information. Everything he thought was real was all just in his head. How could he even know that he was real? So, everything he had felt, the pain, the anguish, the horror—he had been manipulated from the start.

"How do you know all this?"

"Cause we're out in the real world and we have finally gotten through to you, you are talking to people on the outside. Every time you heard the word 'The full picture', that was us trying to get through to you and know we have. You need to accept it so your mind can be free, and we can rescue you."

"This is too much."

"Raphael, please. You need to accept this."

Raph sighs and stares at the floor, he looks away from their corpses, he can't stand to look at them anymore. He looks down at his hands and they're no longer covered in blood, and the slices are gone, it was all fake.

"I accept that this is fake. But I can't accept that I didn't just kill you guys. Your blood is still on my hands."

(M) "We're not real Raph. We're not your real brothers and Liz isn't real either, none of this was real."

Raph thinks for a few minutes, he thinks over every little detail, every little conversation he had with his brothers. They had all felt so real, so authentic, but this can't be real, it can't. If there is even a single chance this could be all fake. He was going to take it.

"OK, I accept that none of this was real. I never woke up."

Raph's heart races as he jolts awake, disorientated and gasping for breath. His surroundings are unfamiliar—a dimly lit prison cell, devoid of any comfort or familiarity. Confusion clouds his mind as he struggles to piece together where he is and how got there. As he stands, his body protests with aching pains, each a reminder of the scars that now cover his entire body. He looks down at himself, the sight of the deep scars confuses him. As he looks around, he finds a mirror hung up on the wall. As he approaches the mirror, his reflection is a haunting sight. His once familiar face is now a canvas of scars and wounds, with a prominent gash slashing across his left eye. The darkness in his eyes reflects multiple turmoils within, and he appears older and more jacked than he remembers. Before he can fully process his reflection, a deafening explosion shatters the silence, sending shockwaves through the room. Raph is thrown forward by the force, debris raining down around him as the wall behind him crumbles to pieces. As his ears ring from the loud explosion, he turns around, and gradually, the sounds of a helicopter grow louder, piercing through the chaos of alarms and shouting voices. With much hesitation, Raph rises to his feet and walks towards the hole in the wall, looking on as a helicopter hovers near his cell. There are krangs in the helicopter waiting for him, they shout out to him, trying to speak over the loud blades of the helicopter.

"QUICKLY JUMP ON!"

(R) "WHERE THE HELL AM I, WHAT IS HAPPENING!"

"ALL WILL BE EXPLAINED, YOU JUST NEED TO GET ON, AND FAST!"

Raph hesitates, feeling utterly lost and uncertain. He questions the reality of the situation and even his own identity. Amidst the chaos, a loud banging from behind him draws his attention to the angry mutants attempting to breach his cell. They look like guards. That sight however helps Raph make his decision. He'd rather take his chances with the Krang breaking him out than stay in this uncertain and dangerous place. As the mutants break down his cell, the helicopter starts to pull away. Raph doesn't even hesitate; his body moves instinctively, bolting towards the edge of his cell without a conscious thought. Surprised by his newfound speed, he leaps and grabs onto the bars of the helicopter. Raph is surprised by how much taller and stronger he's gotten. Inside the helicopter, the Krang slowly pull him in as they speed away, evading the mutants as they open fire after them. Sitting in the helicopter, Raph is overwhelmed with confusion. He looks at his arms, there covered in cuts and needle scars and his whole body almost looks unnaturally jacked. He puts his head in his hands, battling a massive headache. When he looks up, he notices the nervous and almost terrified stares from the Krang around him. It reminds him of the same faces his brothers had made in his so-called 'dream'. Some grip their guns tightly, ready to react at any moment or slight movement he makes. The tension in the air is thick, and Raph can't understand why their looking at him like that.

(R) "I'm really… Where are you taking me?"

They remain silent, they all seem nervous to speak to him, but then the pilot scoffs and speaks.

"For God's sake men, answer the poor man. Look mate we're taking you back to our base, there are people there that you know, you're safe now, just relax.

Raph stares around confused. But just nods and puts his head in his hands, the images of what he did still flood his mind, and tears run down his face silently.

"I don't know what is happening… I'm so confused and tired, and I… I… I don't even know anymore. I'm a fucking mess."

Some droids look at him like he's crazy, while others look at him like there sorry for him. Raph stares at the floor completely confused and disoriented with what is what. After a few minutes, they land in what looks like a secure facility. And once he's on the floor, the pilot takes him inside. As he walks around everyone stares at him, some horrified by his presence and some visibly angry at him. He doesn't understand any of it. As he's walking down the corridor, a small child Krang walks up to him, the child's mother lets out a terrified scream and pulls the child away. Raph recoils from her reaction and feels as he did before, like a monster. He tries to ignore the remaining gazes and walks into a room. The pilot smiles at Raph sadly and then closes the door. He's alone in the room and looks around at the décor, strange pictures of Krang's home world animals. After a few minutes, the door behind him opens, and a familiar voice talks to him.

(Li) "Hello Raph."

Raph turns around and stares wide-eyed as Liz stands perfectly fine in front of him, except she looks rather different than what she did, but he's 100% sure that it is her.

(R) "You're… Alive."

This is the end of Chapter 8 Season 1 of A New Start. Mwhahahahaha. Damn 10,000 words, can you imagine how long this took to edit lol. Well, I'm leaving that as the last chapter for season one and honestly, I'm happy with it, I like how the story went, I like the changes I made while writing this one and I can't wait to write more stuff like this, I know it's not good or anything, but hey, it's for fun. I will now be moving on to other stories and leaving this one for a bit, just so I don't tire of it, but I will eventually come back to it and I'll do season 2. To anyone who was reading my stories thank you, and to people who might come across my stories, I hope you like them, and I hope I continue to get better, maybe planning out the story might help (Cause I kind of just made stuff up as I went along lol). So I guess I'll see you later. Happy reading and see you next time. :)