"Leo?!" Donnie exclaimed, worried.
"My son!" Splinter yells.
"Leonardo-san?" Usagi calls out and walks over to the fallen turtle.
Gyoji appears in front of the two. "Warrior, what has happened here?"
"Something is terribly wrong," Usagi answered. He turns Leo over on his back and leans in close to Leo's plastron, listening to his chest.
"His breathing is shallow,"
"This warrior will require a healer at once," Gyoji said. "The match will be nullified, pending a thorough investigation of this incident."
"I shall come along as well," Usagi offers as he lifts Leo up as he supports him on his shoulder.
"Come, the healer awaits," Gyoji said as he floats next to them. A water dome engulfs the them and they disappear. The Ultimate Ninja and his councilor were watching the entire thing.
"All shall fear me as master of the multi-verse," The Ultimate Ninja said as he walks away. His councilor's eyes glow green.
Usagi, and Leo appear in a large room with many futons lying on the floor. There was a man who face was covered in paint.
"Wise and beloved master healer," Gyoji greets him. "An honored warrior has needs of your gifts."
"Bring him to me, quickly," The healer said as he bows.
Usagi places Leo down on the bed.
"Leo!" Donnie calls out.
He rushes over towards the others and stands over the two. Venus, Mona, and Yuuki followed walking into the room as well.
"What happened to him?" Yuuki asked.
"That's what we're trying to find out. " Usagi tells her.
The healer was kneeling beside Leo and places his hands over Leo's head, and began chanting an unknown language.
"What's with the vulcan mind meld?" Donnie questioned.
"Vulcan mind meld?" Usagi asked, confused.
"What is the healer doing to Leo?" Donnie said, slowly.
"Oh, he is merging with your brother's spirit in order to determine the exact nature of his malady."
"My son!" Splinter calls out as he runs into the room as fast as he could. "Oh my son. What has happened here?"
As the healer continues to chant, he is knocked back, like he was shocked.
"He has been poisoned," The healer said as Splinter and Donnie rush over to him to help him up. "But the source of the toxin eludes me."
"Leonardo poisoned?" The Ultimate Ninja said, shocked. He walks into the room and made his way towards the others. "What fiend would do such a thing? Rest assured, I will personally get to the bottom of this atrocity."
"Stay with Leonardo, Donatello," Splinter ordered. "I will return shortly, I must speak with the Daimyo."
Splinter walks out while Donnie, Usagi, Yuuki, Mona and Venus and the Ultimate Ninja stay behind to look after Leo. The Ultimate Ninja smirks evilly, while no one was looking as Splinter leaves.
Donnie turns to Venus. "Can't you heal him?" He pleaded to her.
Venus heart ached at the way he looked at her. She shook her head "I'm sorry, Donatello. But, there's a limit to my magic. I can only heal wounds and broken bones. I cannot cure sickness and illnesses."
Donnie looks down at Leo, worried. Venus felt completely useless, seeing him like this.
"I will go and fix this matter at once, " The Ultimate said as he leaves.
"Can I come with you?" Yuuki asked.
The Ultimate Ninja turns to her and smiles. "As you wish, " He replied.
"Yuuki, what about Leo?" Donnie asked. "He needs you."
She didn't answer him and followed after the Ultimate Ninja. Venus and Mona gave each other looks then went after them as well.
Donnie sees them leaving as well. "Wait, where are you two going? He calls out. "Venus?"
In her heart, Venus didn't want to leave him in his time of need, but, there was something wrong with her friend and she was going to get to the bottom of it.
Donnie sighs as the two left. He and Usagi looked down at Leo and Donnie places a cloth on his forehead wiping the sweat off.
Venus and Mona followed Yuuki and the Daimyo's son, silently, while not too close. As the two turned around a corner from a market, the two girls discovered that Yuuki and the Ultimate Ninja have disappeared.
"Where'd they go?" Venus asked quietly. Mona shrugged her shoulders in reply, not knowing as well.
However, the two girls didn't realize that a group of shadows were coming up from behind them.
The group of shadow ninjas quickly lunges out and grabbed Venus and Mona, covering their mouths with their hands so the two of them couldn't scream, then the shadow ninjas incapacitated and captured them.
The girls struggled against their assailants, to no avail. Then Venus and Mona heard someone laughing. They looked to see the Ultimate Ninja and Yuuki approaching towards them. Yuuki climbed to his side as the Ultimate Ninja wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. The two smirked evilly at Venus and Mona.
Venus bit her assailant's hand, making him let go. She tried to struggle and break free of the shadow ninja's grip, but it was too strong.
She glared at the Ultimate Ninja. "What did you do to her?!" Venus demanded.
The Daimyo's son laughs at her and Mona. "It's all thanks to the present that I have her." He tells Venus and Mona. The two looked at him confused until Venus looked down at Yuuki's wrist to see the glowing bracelet. "With it, Yuuki is under my full control."
"You are not going to get away with this!" Venus shouted. "The others will find out and stop you!"
"My plan is already in motion," The Ultimate Ninja smirks. "Right now as we speak."
Mona and Venus looked at each other, worried, then back toward The Ultimate Ninja and Yuuki.
"What did you do?" Venus asked, in horror.
Back with the Daimyo, he was waiting in his throne room, getting impatient. "What is keeping my son? His message said this was an urgent matter."
A dark shadow appears in the middle of the room, revealing the assassin. The Daimyo stands up and reaches for his war staff but a chain grabs it and pulls it away.
"What is the meaning of this?!" The Daimyo demanded. More assassins appear and began to surround him. "Guards!"
One of them strikes him with his blade.
In the arena, the tier had ended and Mikey and Raph have made it to the next match.
"The following warriors are to meet at the base of the pyramid area in exactly one mega quagone," The Gyoji said, and he waves his paddle and disappears.
"How long is a mega quagone?" Raph questioned, confused.
"Long enough to see me dominate the finals, bro," Mikey said as he slaps Raph on his shell. "High three!" Raph and Mikey high three each other.
"Leo and Donnie must be kicking themselves for not making the cut," Raph mocks. He looks around " I don't see Yuuki, Mona,and Venus. Guess they didn't make the cut as well.
"But of course, I would never be so unsportsmanlike as to rub it in their faces," Mikey said, in a teasing tone.
"I would." Raph answered.
Mikey laughs and places his arm over Raph's shoulder. "Me too, let's go find them."
As Mikey and Raph left the arena, Alopex was watching them as they did, her attention particularly towards Mikey.
Splinter arrives to the door to the throne room to see that the guards were knocked out.
"Daimyo!" Splinter cried in alarm and he kicks open the doors.
He sees the assassins surrounding the Daimyo, now mask less, and were about to finish him off. Splinter immediately jumps in. One of the assassins throws his blade at Splinter, but he blocks it with his staff. Just as Splinter was about to attack, the assassins retreated, breaking through the screen door, escaping.
"Spline...ter," The Daimyo groans in pain and he tries to sit up. "Spline...ter."
"Do not try to speak, old friend," Splinter said as he stands over the Daimyo. "I will seek help."
"Step away from the Daimyo!" A guard ordered and more guards arrive, armed with weapons. "Now!"
The guards rushed in and grabbed a hold of Splinter restraining him.
"We have the intruder, my lord," A guard speaks.
"Wait, you misunderstand!" Splinter protested.
The Ultimate Ninja steps into the throne room and looks in grief at the sight of his father. "Father!" He cries as he kneels beside him. "No!" The Daimyo groans and tries to reach for Splinter. "Take him to the healer's pavilion at once," The Ultimate Ninja stands in front of Splinter. "My father trusted you, vermin. He called you friend and you betray him thus?"
"Spline...ter," The Daimyo calls out as he continues to reach for Splinter.
"See how he points to the assassin?" The Ultimate Ninja accuses. "Throw this rat in the dungeon!"
As the guards take Splinter away, the Ultimate Ninja puts his mask back on, smirking.
In the healing chamber, Donnie is attending to Leo while Usagi stand across from them.
"Master healer, you are needed at once!" A guard calls out as he and other guards carried an unconscious Daimyo. "The Daimyo has been attacked!"
"Wait, what about Leo?" Donnie questioned. But, he was ignored as they carried the Daimyo into a private room. He looks over at Leo and sighs worriedly. "What can I do? I'm an engineer, not an doctor."
He sees a hand reach out to Leo and grabs it when he sees that it was Usagi.
"Don't even think about touching him!"
"Please," Usagi said. "I only wish to help. I mean no harm."
Donnie gives him a wary look. "Okay, go ahead, but I'll be watching."
"I might have a way to figure out what has happened to your brother," Usagi said as he places his swords down and picked up a oil lamp, holding it out in front of Donnie. "If you would be so kind as to hold this for me, like so." Donnie takes it from him. Usagi pulls out a crystal from his pocket and holds it in front of the lamp. "Observe."
The light shines through the crystal, making a rainbow and Usagi moves it around Leo's neck until he finds an invisible mark on him.
"What is it?" Donnie asked.
"It is the entry point of a dissolving poison dart," Usagi answered as he pulls out a small cloth and bag. "A rarely used weapon nearly impossible to detect, even by a trained healer." He pulls the string on the bag, loosing it to reveal some herbs. "Now that we have located the source of the toxin, I have some medicine that might help, with your permission." Donnie nods. Usagi places the herbs onto the cloth and presses it against the wound. "All we can do now is wait."
Donnie looks down at Leo, worried.
In the markets, Alopex was looking through a short purple and blue alien merchant, who was holding a spear, wares until she picks up an strange looking fruit. Alopex was about to take a bite out of it until a hand grabs her by her wrist. She looks down to see the merchant grumbling angrily at her in an alien language.
She frowned. Right, she had to pay. She reaches down into her pocket only to find that she had no money. Of course, Usagi made her give the money back. Just great...
Then, she looks up to see Mikey and Raph walking towards them from the distance.
"The Orange one got me covered. He'll pay you." She tells the alien merchant. She walked away, quickly, with the fruit in her hand before the alien could say or do anything.
In the streets, Raph and Mikey were having a look around.
"Make way!" Mikey shouted. "Battle Nexus finalists coming through! That's right, feast your eyes on Mikey the magnificent, defeater of some of the greatest warriors in all creation!"
Raph smacks Mikey on the back of his head. "Will you give it a rest already?"
"Psst, hey turtles," A voice calls out to them and they look over to see Gen. "Care to place a wager on me for the next round? I'm the odds on favor to 3 to 1."
"Beat it rhino, find some other sucker," Raph said as he walks off, but Mikey stays behind.
"Wait, what are the odds on me?" Mikey asked.
"The long shot?" Gen said with a mocking laugh. "200 to 1."
"Long shot? Moi?" Mikey questioned, a bit upset. Then it sinks into him. "Whoa, I gotta get in on that action," Mikey runs up to catch up to Raph. "Hey Raph, come on, break me off some bank."
"Forget it, bro," Raph denies and starts to pull Mikey away. Raph turns back to the Gen. "And you can stick your horn in someone else's business, rhino."
"Your loss, reptile."
"Hey, hey, hey, what were you thinking?!" Mikey questioned Raph. "200 to 1, we can clean up."
"Lose your shell more likely," Raph mocks.
Mikey growls in annoyance and anger. He runs in front of Raph, stopping him. "Hey! What, you don't think I'm a contender? You think I'm a bum? A cream puff? A lightweight? A loser?...You can stop me anytime here."
"I will when I disagree with you, now let's go find the others."
Mikey runs to catch up to him, and started walking backwards as he talks to him. "Right, we wouldn't want them to miss my incredible Battle Nexus triumph. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, who be the turtle, the turtle be me!"
As he was walking backwards, Mikey spotted Alopex sitting on top of a merchant stand. She looks up and noticed him then she smiles and winks at him. Not paying attention, he runs into a cart, knocking it over, spilling the contents on a small alien holding a spear. Alopex's mouth dropped and she gasps in shock.
The alien growls then turns to Mikey, glaring at him angrily and started shouting in an unknown language to Mikey.
"Sounds like the universal language of "I'm going to kick your butt" to me," Raph said.
"Yeah, well, if you weren't such a puny little shrimp, I'd show you how a real Battle Nexus champion fights!" Mikey taunts as he pokes the alien in the chest.
The alien starts to twitch before he suddenly grows taller and stronger and now towering over Mikey. Mikey looked up at the alien and very afraid "Eep," He smiles nervously.
In the dungeons, Splinter is sitting calmly. He hears the doors open and footsteps and the Ultimate Ninja is standing in front of him with his councilor behind him.
"How can one remain so calm in the face of such serious charges?" He questioned.
"I could never bring harm to the Daimyo as you should know," Splinter answered.
"All to well, for it is I who ordered the attack on my father!"
Splinter's eyes widen at this revelation.
"Oh, yes, even as we speak, your "friend" the Daimyo lies in the healer pavilion, not long for this world. And your son, Leonardo, lies there as well, poisoned by my hand. My father forced me to bow before you, your sons, and my future bride! Now you will bow before me for I am the Daimyo now!" The Ultimate Ninja said as he pulls out his father's war staff.
"You will never earn that title," Splinter said as he stands up. "You know nothing of honor."
"Honor?" The councilor speaks and Splinter looks over at him surprised. "This has nothing to do with honor, little ratling, this has to do with power," The figure rips off his robes to reveal, a large red dragon like creature, Drako. "Power and vengeance!"
"Drako!" Splinter gasps in shock.
"Yes, I'm pleased you remembered me. How's the leg?" Splinter glares up at him harshly.
Suddenly, shadow ninjas appeared with Venus and Mona, who were struggling with their restraints. Splinter's eyes widen in shock. He growls in anger.
"Put them in the cell, next the rat, " The Ultimate Ninja orders.
Venus and Mona were roughly thrown in and the door slammed behind them, as the door locked.
The Ultimate Ninja and Drank leaves along with the guards, leaving Splinter, Venus, and Mona alone together.
"Venus, Mona, what has happened?" Splinter asked them.
"The Daimyo is in danger!" Venus warns him. " Yuuki, as well. The Daimyo's son is controlling her mind. We need to get that bracelet off of her and fast or she will be lost to us forever. "
Splinter frowns, hearing what she had told him. " What do you mean? "
Venus sighs. "The longer Yuuki has that bracelet on her, she will forget everything. She won't even remember us,...or Leo,"
"We need to get out of here and fast!" He tells them.
Back out on the streets, Raph is standing on the sidelines with the crowd now gathered around, Alopex in the crowd as well, while the giant alien grabs Mikey and lifts him up.
"Did you know where I come from, puny little shrimp is a term of endearment?" Mikey said, nervously. "My brothers call me that all the time, isn't that right Raph, you puny little shrimp?"
"If you're looking for help from me, you're looking in the wrong place Mikey," Raph answered with a smirk.
Alopex was about to jump in until a voice calls out.
"Attend! Attend!" The Gyoji calls out. "The final stage of the Battle Nexus Tournament is about to begin!" He waves his paddle and there was a bright flash of light. They're back in the arena. "Welcome noble warriors, to the final stage of the Battle Nexus Tournament!"
"Hey..." Mikey hears a voice call out. He turns to see that it was Alopex.
"I saw what happened with that alien. Are you alright?" She asked.
"Moon eyes," Mikey murmurs softly to himself.
Alopex eyes widen in surprise and she felt her cheek grow hot at what he said. "What?" This was the first time, other than Usagi, someone had complimented her on her looks, especially about her eyes. A genuine compliment. It was something she wasn't used to.
Mikey's widen in realization at what he had said. Embarrassed, he rubs the back of his head. "Uh, yeah," He stammers, trying quickly to correct himself. " It sort of happens to us, well, mostly to me, all the time. Thanks for asking."
"So, what's your name?" Mikey asked "I'm Michelangelo, but you can call me Mikey."
"Alopex," She tells him.
"Before we begin," Gyoji speaks and conjures a water bubble. "All match ups will be determined by random lottery. However, due to a disqualification, we are left with uneven numbers of combatants. Therefore, the odd warrior will automatically advance to the next level."
"You're in luck, Mikey, warriors don't get any odder than you," Raph teases.
The contestants reach into the bubble and pull out kunais but at the end of them were colored ribbons, to match who was going to fight who. Mikey pulls out a yellow ribbon kunai and sees that Kluh has one as well. Kluh smirks evilly at him and Mikey gulps nervously. He backs away from the alien and bumps into another contestor. Mikey turns around and shakes his hand, swapping out the kunais. "Good luck pal and may the best warrior win," Mikey laughs as the two contestants disappear. "Suckers, the hand is quicker than the eye."
Raph holds out a kunai in front of him with the same colored ribbon.
"Uh-oh," Mikey said, nervously.
"I am so going to enjoy this," Raph said with an evil smirk. "We're talking a lifetime's worth of get backs here."
Gennosuke pulls out a kunai with a red ribbon. "Yes, I advance to the semi-finals. Ha, you should have bet on me while you had the chance, fools," He taunts at Mikey and Raph.
"Wait, I change my mind! I think I want to fight the purple guy!" Mikey said to the Gyoji, who raises his paddle. Another bright light appears and Mikey turns to see that he was facing Raph.
"You wouldn't consider forfeiting like Master Splinter, would ya?" He asked nervously as Raph pulls out his sais. Raph jumps up and lunges at Mikey. Mikey back flips away and Raph's sais get stuck to the ground.
"I'll take that as a no," Mikey replied.
A female alien was facing against Alopex, she gets her weapon knocked out of her hands. Alopex draws out her butterfly knives and charges at her. The alien rolls out of the way and slides over to her trident and picks it up. Alopex darted quickly, and the alien couldn't keep up with the fox's speed. Alopex easily disarms her and knocks the alien to the ground. The white fox raise her knives, ready to strike the final blow. The alien disappears before she could, making Alopex the winner of the match .
Kluh blocks his weapon with his opponent and grabs him, slamming the alien to the ground. As Kluh was about to stab his spear into him, his opponent disappears and transported into the resting area. The healers tend to him.
Mikey and Raph circle each other. Raph lunges for him, but Mikey flips over him, kicking him from behind. Raph growls and the crowd cheers.
"Hear that crowd, bro? That's me they're cheering for," Mikey brags and Raph growls in anger, blindly charging at him.
"That's right, me, not you, but me. Not you, but me," Mikey taunts as Raph leaps up to kick him, but he misses when Mikey bows. He tumbles on the ground and Mikey turns to him.
"Okay, now you're just getting sloppy,"
Raph growls as he stands up, trying to hit Mikey with his sais, but misses with each strike. "Will...you...shut...your trap?!" Raph exclaimed, angrily. Mikey stops and he glares at him.
"Why? Does my talking bother you?" Raph tries to strike but Mikey dodges, making a smug look with his hands behind his back. "Am I distracting you somehow, making you lose focus, messing up your concentration?" Raph tries again, but Mikey continues to dodge his strikes. "Finally, getting on your nerves, perhaps?"
Raph pants and kneels to the ground, getting exhausted. "Or maybe you're just a teensy bit worried that I might actually...beat you." Mikey smiles.
Raph growls in anger and charges at Mikey again, only to crash into the wall as Mikey jumps out of the way. He hits himself with his sai when he ran into the wall, causing him to disappear.
Raph appears in the resting area, rubbing his head. "Oh, I don't believe it. Mikey beat me!" He sees Mikey waving to the crowd. "He's in the final four?! And I'm out?! What if...what if...what if Mikey actually wins? What if he becomes the Battle Nexus Champion? He'll never let me live it down! And I'll never be able to live with myself!" Raph begins to freak out and grabs a contestant and starts to shake him, making the alien hit his head on the wall as he did.
Raph felt someone place a hand on his shoulder and looks to see that it was Traximus.
"Fate is a harsh mistress, my friend."
"Traximus?" Raph asked, surprised.
"Care to drown your sorrows in a solution liquid protein supplement?"
Traximus takes Raphael to a pub and they sat down, ordering their drinks.
"This one's on me Raphael," Traximus said as the waiter brings them their drinks. "I never got the chance to thank you and your brothers."
"For what?" Raph asked.
"My freedom. Back in the arena on the Triceraton home world, the mayhem you and your brothers caused when you kidnapped the Prime Leader allowed my compatriots and I to escape."
"That Triceraton gladiator world was a messed up place, huh?"
"I'm afraid things have grown far worse. The Federation and Triceraton Republic have escalated their senseless war to insane proportions. Many have perished in this senseless conflict. I hear word that the Prime Leader wants revenge, especially with one of your brothers, Donatello, I believe that was his name, right?"
"What does that horn head want with Donnie?" Raph asked.
"Well, you guys did steal Empress Venus from him. I just wanted to pass along the warning," Traximus tells him.
"So what brings you to the Battle Nexus?" Raph asked.
"I have come here mainly hoping to find recruits to help me overthrow the Triceraton Republic and the Prime Leader's corrupt regime. Although it seems not even the Battle Nexus is immune to corruption. I hear word of an attempt on the Daimyo's life by some cowardly assassin rat."
Raph coughs up his drink in shock. "Did you say rat?!"
"Goes by the name of Shard or Sliver," Traximus scratches the side of his head.
"Or Splinta? That's my sensei and he's definitely no assassin! What else have you heard?"
"Only that he was caught in the act and imprisoned in the palace dungeon,"
"No way! It's gotta be a frame up, I'm gonna bust him out right now!" Raph was about to jump into action, but Traximus stops him, grabbing his shoulder.
"Raphael, that is a rash, fool-hearty, and extremely dangerous act...count me in."
In the healing chamber, the healer was working with the Daimyo while two guards stand by the door. Leo was still unconscious. Suddenly, balls were thrown into the room and smoke exploded, knocking out the guards and the healer.
Two assassins jump into the room. They make their way to the private room but one of them stops stands near Leo.
"What are you doing? Our orders were to end the Daimyo's life."
"And so we shall, but we'll make it look like the turtle creature finish the work his master started," He takes Leo's swords and tosses one to the other assassin and entered the private room. The two assassins both stand on both side of the Daimyo with Leo's swords, raising it in the air. Just as the assassins were about to strike, a blade blocks their blow. Usagi knocks them aside while Donnie trips them, knocking them away from the Daimyo.
"Be alert, Donatello-san," Usagi warns. The assassins stand up again. "Leonardo-san and I have encountered these assassins before and they are extremely skilled and dangerous."
One of the assassins throws a chain with a weight at the end at Donnie. He ducks and rolls away as it hits a pillar. "You can say that again," Donnie said, gravely.
"Very well," Usagi said as he defends himself against an assassin. "They are extremely skilled and dangerous."
When Usagi throws another attack, his sword gets caught in the assassins spear and it gets ripped from his grip then he gets kicked through a screen door. Donnie ran into the private room.
"I believe this belongs to my good friend Usagi," Donnie said as he prevents the assassin from eliminating the Daimyo.
Usagi gets up and grabs Donatello's staff. The assassin throws Donnie off of him but Usagi stops him with Donnie's staff.
"And I believe I have something of yours, Donatello," Usagi said.
They both toss their weapons and began to fight against the assassins.
"Why did you attack the Daimyo?" Donnie questioned as he clashes against an assassin. "Who are you working for?"
As Usagi fights with an assassin, he slices the assassin's chain in half, Usagi dodges and jumps over him. The assassin wraps the chain around Usagi's wrist. Usagi yanks the assassin and throws him into a shelf.
"Easy, Usagi, we can't get information out of them if they're out cold," Donnie tells him.
"My apologies, Donatello-san," Usagi answered as he shrugs.
The assassin knocks Donnie down, and rushes towards the Daimyo. Usagi moves quickly and manages to block the assassin's blade from striking the Daimyo. Donnie tackles the assassin and pins him down.
"Now, tell us who you serve, assassin," Usagi demanded. "Or feel the wrath of my blade." The assassin doesn't speak but looks behind them.
"Usagi, do you get the feeling that he knows something we don't?" Donnie asked, worried.
Usagi walks out of the private room to see more assassins coming into the room.
"Donatello," Usagi speaks. "I get the feeling that we are in for the fight of our lives."