Part 6,
I got mad, real mad at Terror after that night. No matter how hard I tried to forget how he laughed after my brothers left, I couldn't forget it. It happened, and there's nothing that can take it back. I was mad at Terror before for keeping me here, but now this is just getting me even more mad, for he is making my brother lose all trust in me. I trained harder, and harder with my katas and even did some Hudari Eigo Ni Kumite to keep myself busy. The blades in me burned, and after awhile I started to enjoy the pain. It was as if it was part of me.
And after awhile it did become part of me. I saw this one day while Kumite with Shredder, I took him down with no sign of any care. I would have finished him off if Terror didn't walk in the room. Shredder backed away from me, I saw the fear in his eyes and that made me feel good. I looked over towards Terror. Terror smiled and walked towards me. "It's time for you to do some real work now Turtle. You have more than proved yourself to me." At first I felt like this was great, I proved myself, but than it hit me, what have I proved myself for?
It was a week since that night when Terror told me that I proved myself to him, that he gave me my first real job. It was in the US. A Ice Cream place called Cherly's in L.A. area. I was to go there, take some cash and kill the ppl inside the place. Blades was to come with me. When we got here, I could feel a fire growing inside of me, it kept me going, doing as I was told. As I walked in I cut into someone standing near the door, and I watched him fall dead. I stop to look, trying think of what I was doing, but than the flam grew even more. I walked in.
"Everyone against the wall!" I Kiai. They ran against the wall, everyone did, but one person. This guy looked up from the table he sat at.
"I'll move after I'm done with my Ice Cream." He said. I walked towards him and brought my sword to him.
"I said against the wall! Now!!!" The teen looked up at me and almost laughed out.
"You have to be joking me Mr. I'm not moving. What's with the Turtle costume, I watch that show and I know if you wear a costume like that you should be doing better stuff than robbing a Ice Cream shop. I mean come on, you're wasting your time here. The Ninja Turtles are Hero's not Zero's."
"Mikey are you mad!!! Get over here, before the W kills you!" A lady Kiai from against the wall.
"I'll die before I give up for a W wearing a Turtle costume." Than the voice of this Mikey got to me, he wasn't a turtle, I saw that, but boy did he sound like Michaelangelo. I looked at him, than realized I have met him before, but he didn't know I was a Turtle. This kid use to go to Roy's and was a friend of Michaelangelo. I couldn't kill him, he was a friend. I wanted to back away, but than the pain, the fire in me grew I couldn't stand the thought he didn't even fear me. I brought my sword down at him with no care if he lives.
Mikey looked up at the sword than caught it with his hands. This had to be a dream I thought. I pulled my sword back and fell over something as I stepped back. I looked around to see the one lady with a surprise look on her face looking at Mikey, than I looked to see what I tripped over.
"You lost yourself Leo. You gave in to the blades and therefore your brothers have no one to look too or count on. They will never learn of who you are and how much you need there help." I looked to see the kid Turtle, he was what I tripped over. I stood up.
"Who cares!!! You don't seem to be helping me!!! You just watch and try telling me what to do!!!! I need help!!!"
"You should care Leo. I may not be the help you need, because I see I should not step into this fight, it's not mine. You have to fight this, and you have to fight it on your own, until you have your brothers help. That is when I will help you. Once you can regain yours and your brothers trust." I brought my head down, than looked at Blades standing behind me, Blades didn't say a word, he just watched.
"I have a job to do." I say backing out of this. I knew if I didn't do the job I would have problems once going home to W HQ.
"I might not be able to help you, but I can stop you once it is needed." The little turtle started to change forms in front of my eyes. He grew, he grew my size, than he looked almost like Terror besides the fact that he was black not read, his eyes were white and he wore peace signs in three different ares. "Remember Leonardo, I'm your friend and right now you are your own worst nightmare." I could swear that sounded like my voice talking back to me. Mark was now what I saw as why Terror said I'll have a bigger job, he was one of the Shapers we were being sent out to find.
I stopped and looked at myself. I saw someone I never wanted to become, I killed almost every time Terror sent me out lately. I have not been nice to anyone, not even Blades and I just kiai at Mark after all, he's the only one on the outside who knows what wrong with me, and that it's me. To fight him, would to let the only one that trusted me on the outside down, but not to fight him would mean the end of New York, my home, my friends and family. I had to fight, but I really didn't want to.
The truth of what was going on, hit me hard in the face. I just stood there, looking at Mark, the Shaper that they wanted the thing that kept the W's here. Why can't they just leave Earth and let us be. Why do they hide within our world.
Mikey stood up next to Mark. "Hey Mark, need some help dude?" I could swear that sounded like Michaelangelo talking, but I use to say that when he was in New York. What was he doing here in L.A. The lady at the wall kiai at Mikey, telling him to get against the wall and save his life. But Mikey didn't listen he was with Mark, and they both were going to stand up to me. I had to do what I had to do.
I held my sword tight in front of me. "Forgive me for what I'm about to do. I don't want to hurt you, but I have no choice, I must do as I'm told." I went down at Mark, he reached out and grabbed the sword.
"First thing you should learn Leo. Is that cutting us doesn't always work."
"Meaning it does sometimes huh?" I said bring my other sword into his side, but he just stood there, as if he didn't feel any pain. "Doesn't that hurt you?" I looked at the wound, something was wrong here, he was not going to fall. Meaning I would be the one to fall. Blades went at Mikey, bring his bo down at Mikey, as Mikey stepped out of the way and laughed.
"Is that the best you can do?" Mikey said smiling. Blades looked at Mikey, you could tell they met before. Blades got mad and tried to hit him again. "Come on dude. What would Davy do if he saw you trying to kill me?" Blades jumped at Mikey doing a flying Nawa Geri, Mikey stepped out of the way laughing. "Come on, you were taught better than that, did you forget your teachings?"
I looked at Mark standing in front of me. "Why do I feel this fight is useless?"
"Because you're learning Leo. You're starting to see the truth of what they're doing to you. You're only hope is to let the truth fill your head. Hold your anger back and say that is what troubles you. Don't let Terror get you made. You should have heard, that anger clouds the mind and to turn inward, your movie said it, you should listen. Don't let the anger cloud your mind." I looked back at Blades, the anger has clouded his mind and he was losing to an easy fight.
"I'm so sorry Mark. What do I do?"
"You must stand your ground and think of what is right to do. You have two choices and one is to retreat."
"But I don't want to feel the pain, or lose New York City because of failing. Please help me."
"Than you have made your choice, we must fight, till you retreat." Just than the door swung open. I went to look who was coming in, but one of the voices told me who it was.
"eeeww what happened to this dude."
"It looks like he got hit by the Shredder." I looked to see The other Turtles Raphael in the lead of Don and Mikey. I stepped back and than they looked at me. "Who ever left us that hint about the clone Leo being here was right. Let's get him. He may be the only one who can tell us where Leo is." They jumped at me, Raph held his sais in hand. I went to move out of the way, but was too slow, Raph got me. The sais went through my Mae Shell. I fell to the ground, feeling it break. Raph stood over me and put his foot on me. Mark and Mikey backed away into the shadows.
I lay on the ground looking at Raph, things started to go dark, I had a hard time seeing him, but could feel his foot on me, the pain in my shell. I felt the tears from the pain going down my eyes. Than I saw figures step behind Raph, I couldn't make them out, but I could tell who they were. It was Mikey and Don. Raphael got down and put a sai to my throat.
"Now!! Where is our Leonardo???!!" I rolled my eyes and tried to talk, I felt blood come up instead. I tried again than broke out spitting up blood. Than when I was done with that I looked again, trying to make out what shape was what. I felt I was losing my mind. "WHERE IS LEONARDO!!!!!" I tried to talk again, and felt the pain as more blood came up, but this time I got some words out.
"I...I am...Leo...Leonar..Leonardo." I said with all the pain in me crying out... yelling no don't talk! I looked again. Raph's eyes glared at me.
"I'm not putting up with this!!! I want our Leo!!! I miss him, and you know where he is!!!"
"Please..." I took a breath trying to finish my line.."believe me... Raph.. help.. .the pain... I ..I.." I closed my eyes, the pain was to much. I was trying to tell the truth, but the truth it self was so dark and hard to believe. It was a dark truth, but it had to be told. I couldn't talk now, and I knew if they took me trouble would be caused. I opened my eyes to get my last look at them "Leave...my broth...ers you...mu..st ..go." I closed my eyes. Hearing the last so many words spoken by my brother.
"Hey... wake up... are you really Leo?"
"Why would he tell us to leave him, if he was a clone?"
"Ah dudes, if it's really Leo than we shouldn't leave him."
"But he asked?" Than all went quiet as I heard Don's words.
I woke to a warm hand resting on my head. "It's him my sons." I looked up to see the face I've missed so much.
"Master..." I couldn't finish talking, I hurt to much. Splinter looked at me. The other stood around, Raph fell back from the others. Seeing it was me, he was sore for what he had done.
"You'll be ok, my son."
"I... I...." Stopping for a breath I tried to finish my line. "must go..." Splinter looked at me.
"What are you talking about my son. You're in no shape to travel and you're safe here." Splinter looked over, his eyes full of feeling he didn't want to show to much of. I could tell Splinter didn't want me to leave, but all I could think about was what Terror would do if I didn't return. "You have been down for over 24 hours Leo, we thought we were going to lose you. You must rest now my son."
I tried to sit up, but my arms wouldn't move. The pain stopped me from moving at all. And talking hurt more than I wanted to try. Donatello came over and started to take care of my wounds. "Master Splinter will he be ok?"
"I think so, but we must let him rest." They got up and left me lying there. All but Raphael... he stood in the dark of the room. His sais was not on his belt, which was very rear to see. He walked towards me and sat down after everyone was out of the room.
"Leo, I'm sorry about this. I was going to kill you. I still can't believe it's you." Raphael got up than looked at me. "Once you can talk, you're going to have a few questions to answer like, WHY?" Raph turned and walked out of the room. In his eyes I saw anger, and depression. If I died Raph would blame himself, but maybe it'll be better if I was dead, maybe it would take me out of all this. I thought of that again and again, but as the Ninja I was to let myself die would be dyeing without honor.
It was just a few hours before the pain started. Terror was trying to call me back, but the pain didn't help at all. I went down with a loud scream of pain. Splinter and Raphael came running in, followed close by Don and Mikey. I cried out again, trying to get out bed. I had to get back to W HQ or the pain wouldn't stop, and I didn't know how much time he would give me before destroying New York. I looked up at Splinter, making myself talk with all the pain, pulling and tearing at me.
"Master Splinter, I have no choice I must leave! I have to go now, it could cost New York if I don't leave!" Splinter saw the pain in my eyes, he knew where ever I had to go to was what was causing the pain.
"You are on a journey that we can not help you with Leo?" Raph said walking up behind me. "Leo, we're a team, if you need help, we're here for you damnit!!"
"I can't bring you there...I.. I.. have no..." without another word I closed my eyes, the pain was to great. I needed help getting there, but to ask my brothers would bring them into danger. I opened my eyes to see Raph walking back and forth. I reached up and pushed myself out of bed, with all the pain in me, it hurt so bad, I couldn't help but let out another scream of pain. Raphael looked me dead in the eyes.
"Leo! You can't do this without us! We're a TEAM!! We work together! You wouldn't let me do stuff on my own, it's time I fight against you doing so!" Raphael walked over and grabbed his sais, still with my blood on them.
"Raph.. you..can't come. It's to much danger, that not even I can get away from." I swung my legs over to the side of the bed and tried to stand on them. As I got up and my legs fell out from under me in pain. I couldn't stand, I did need help, but to take Raph would have a big fight all the way there, to take Mikey would put my youngest brother in to much trouble. I looked at Donatello, I needed him. "Don" I said reaching up to him, "can you take me back to LA?" Donatello grabbed my hand and help me up. "Thank you Donny."
We got stuff to wear and went to the air port. The pain slowed me down so much. I just couldn't stop thinking if I'm to slow, when will he destroy my home. We got onto a cargo plane going to LA. Donatello looked at me as we were on the plane.
"What's going on Leo? You didn't even tell Master Splinter."
"It's hard for me to talk Don.... it's to much pain to tell right now. I just need to say, I need your guys help.. save me." I closed my eyes as we sat on the plane and fell asleep. When the plane landed Don got me back to the W HQ. "It may be moved from here by tomorrow Donny. I hope to see you soon, remember I need all my brothers to help me, even Master Splinter."
"We're here for you Leo." With those words I pulled myself into the building trying to stand was useless, my legs couldn't hold me, my eyes were filled with the pain. Once I reached the door I looked back as Donatello got out of sight. "Good bye Leonardo, we're here for you, always." I couldn't even knock on the door, the pain was to much. I tried to move my arm one last time to knock, but I pass out.
When I awoke, it all felt like a dream, besides the fact that I still had the pain from the sais going into me. I looked up to see Terror standing there, "Your brothers now know don't they?"
"Yes, they now know that I am the only Leo out there. You can no longer hold that over my head. I am free of one of your....." I felt as if I couldn't breath, some more blood came up, I felt I shouldn't talk anymore, not till I could talk. The two areas the sai cracked through the shell at held the pain in me. I felt it as if they were killing me off.
As time passed, my wounds healed. I looked to the window of my new room as the days went by. I knew my brothers are out there, and looking for me, but where. Did Donatello think of staying around and following the W's when we moved or did he just leave. I never was awake when we moved, it all seemed to happened when I slept. The pain from the sai hung over me for weeks. I knew my brother didn't mean to hurt me, so I didn't hold it against him. I felt my brother were near me, even when far. I have found myself and faced the Dark Truth, but to get away from this truth that I live, I must fight a hard battle, but I couldn't do it alone. I had new thoughts on mind, once I heal I must find my brothers and come up with an idea of how to win this fight.
A fight many say will never be won, but they are wrong. As Mikey told me years ago, I have to follow my heart, and that I will do. My heart is telling me to find the way home.