Gone in an Instant!
A/N: Hello everyone, it's been a while since I have put up a fic. Lately, I've been going through some things such as working my Zazzle Shop, looking for a job, making sure I have some work done on my teeth. And I am currently working on a project with some friends so I've been swearing off fic writing until my current bit is done. I'm just writing this fic to give my thoughts on the recent ep. I loved Power Inside Her a lot, but like many people I also felt there could be more going on with the Turtles. After all, this was their own brother that they just witnessed getting destroyed in front of their very eyes. While yes, they wouldn't have been able to grieve for long as they did still have to break April free from Za-Noran's control either by redeeming her or if it had to come to that slaying her. So realistically the impact of the loss itself would have likely happened later, once everything was over. And even Donnie being revived would not have made any anxiety this situation would have invoked any less painful. The fact it happened at all would have been distressful to everyone on some level including the people who weren't there to witness it.
The fact is this was someone who was a brother and friend. This was someone they had spent their whole lives with, talked with, trained alongside, fought alongside, and in a single instant he is gone. The impact of this could have been heavier if the remaining turtles and Casey had flashbacks much like April had when Raph told her to remember Donnie. Some good examples of such memories are Donnie and Casey working on that car in the farmhouse, Raph giving Donnie all the credit for saving April's dad, or Mikey hugging Donnie in Fungus Humongous. Or even some those 2D flashback stills that could be expanded upon later either in the show itself or by fan speculation such as childhood memories.
As usual, I don't own Ninja Turtles. TMNT belongs to its respective creators. Please support the official release.
It was a vision that just wouldn't leave his mind. They had just been thrown off the roof of the Channel 6 building. Fortunately, his brothers and himself had their grappling hooks so they were able to spare themselves from a fatal fall. Raph grabbed Casey as he fell and safely (but not gently) brought him back to street level. As they readied themselves for another confrontation with April or rather Za-Noran…the corrupt Aeon that inhabited April's body, they heard it, the familiar metallic click, click, click of shuko spikes climbing up concrete.
"Donnie!" Mikey yelled in horror. The last they had seen of Donatello he had said he would stay at the lair to figure out how to break the crystals connection to April. And now he was drawn here like a moth to candle flame. The purple-masked turtle was too far up to hear them.
Determination spread to their limbs as they rushed to aid their brother. Donnie had no idea what he was up against; there was no way he'd be able to take on Za-Noran on his own, he needed their help.
"Donnie!" Raph yelled as they rushed towards the tv station.
"We won't get there in time!" He yelled as they saw Donnie disappear over the rim of the building.
"We certainly won't get there if we keep yappin'" Casey griped from where he clung to Mikey's shell.
"We need to get that crystal away from Za-Napril..." Mikey said before he screwed his face up a little in thought. "Or how about Ap-naron!
"Figure out the names later, Dr. Naminstine!" Raph snarled. "We need to get to Donnie!"
"April!" They could hear Donnie call out.
"Foolish mortal," Za-Ramon snarled in warning as she knocked Donatello backward. "Stay out of my way!" Donatello scrambled back to his feet again undeterred.
"April, it's me! Donatello!" Donnie called out. April's voice seemed to change softening from the hardened anger and determination of the Aeon, to fear and distress as April's voice sounded. Donnie had reached her, for a moment at least but he had succeeded in reaching her.
"Donnie?" April said her voice strained as though she was trying to fight against a force beyond her control. They had reached the roof and were climbing over the edge of the building
"Listen to me…" Donnie softly intoned as he cautiously approached the red-haired girl who was struggling against the being that was clawing its way through her mind. "Give me the crystal. Just give me the crystal and everything will be okay."
"NO!" The demon possessed red-head roared before she psychically grabbed hold of Donnie. His brother gave a strangled cry of fright as he was lifted into the air. April or Za-Noran or whoever this being was now levitated off of the rooftop before flying up towards the eye of the overhead storm, dragging Donnie with her. The feral smirk on her face screamed she intended to severely punish him for his interference.
"Donnie!" He heard himself scream as he rushed towards the aerial tower.
"DONNIE!" Raph and Mikey echoed in equal horror. Casey Jones stayed on the rooftop helplessly watching in horror as his rival and the girl they both were infatuated with rose into the sky. Donnie screamed out as he was dragged further and further into the air. Unfortunately, no matter how fast he and his brothers climbed the tower, Donnie was aways several feet beyond their reach until to their dismay they found they could climb no further.
A cold chill passed through his body as his two brothers and himself watched as April stopped where she was levitating in the sky. Donnie was suspended in the air about three feet below her. Both his second brother and the possessed girl they had all had thought of as a friend and sister were too far out of their reach. Whatever was to happen, it was obvious it wasn't good.
"We need to do something, Leo!" Mikey said.
"There…" He could feel his heart breaking at the words that he, unfortunately, had to acknowledge were true. "There is nothing we can do…"
"Come on, Leo!" Raph snarled. But there was an edge of distress that betrayed Raph's angry bravado as though he didn't want to admit that they were too late. "That is your little brother up there, you're honestly going to stand here and let gods know what happen?!"
"What would you suggest?!" Was something he had wanted to growl at his red-masked brother. But instead, he sadly kept his attention focused on what was going on, silently planning out his options and crossing them out. They could use their grappling hooks perhaps grab Donnie with them and pull him to safety. No, that wouldn't work. They could end up hurting Donnie more than helping him or possibly hit April. They could attempt to jump, but Aeon that was possessing April could just move out of the way. From the looks of things Donnie didn't have his grappling hook with him, if he was allowed to fall, perhaps they could swing over and grab him. No, that's too easy, Za-noran was well aware of them, there was no way the Aeon would just give them the opportunity to save their brother. Raph sighed through his nose in frustration but his normally emerald green eyes were pained as he turned his gaze up to his immediate younger brother. The way his knuckles paled as he gripped the metal of the tower, showed he felt just as helpless in this situation as the rest of his siblings.
"Donnie…" Mikey whimpered in worry.
"April, this isn't you!" Donnie called up the girl with him. "That crystal is changing you, you need to break free!" He could feel his heart clench as a sob threatened to erupt from his chest. Even now…even when his second brother knew he would likely not survive. He was still loyally fighting to save the girl he loved.
"Donnie…" He's voice shook as he whispered his younger brother's name under his breath. He didn't want to see what was about to happen. He had seen so much sadness, so much evil, so much death in his short lifetime. They had failed to stop Tang Shen's death and prevent Karai from being raised by the Shredder, though success meant they would never exist to save the world from the Kraang in the future. They had seen Splinter murdered and the entire world destroyed before their very eyes. They had watched as someone they had grown to know as an ally sacrificed himself to correct the mistakes of his past. He had seen his brothers in dangerous situations where even their survival was purely miraculous. Raph turned into a plant, Mikey swallowed alive, he himself had been seriously wounded enough to be in a three-month long hibernative coma. Barely even two months ago, Donnie was nearly lost in an explosion, one that he had caused. Now…now Donnie's life was in fate's hands once again, and a shitty card had just been played.
In the sky above them, April was struggling against the demon controlling her. Leo wouldn't have been surprised if she knew what that monster wanted to do, how could she not? The Aeon was possibly taunting her with it
"It's too much power! I…I can't control it anymore!" April cried out as she felt her resolve slipping.
"You can do it! I know you can!" Donnie called up trying to encourage her to keep fighting. But he couldn't mistake the bite of fear in his brother's voice. He didn't want to watch this...but he couldn't tear his eyes away. What would Captain Ryan have done in this situation? Then he remembered Space Heroes episode 63, in that episode Grundch had been about to be swallowed alive by the Devourer of Hungrinian System. Captain Ryan, just turned and said that there was nothing to be done, thanked Grundch for his service and returned to the ship with the rest of his crew.
What about the SRMFF, that had to have some solution…The Princess becomes possessed by the vengeful spirit of Nekomatara and Dr. Blip wanted to save her. But was forbidden to do so because of some statute in the SRM regulations prevented it so long as was part of the team.
Okay okay, Crognard…there was nothing….
"I'm not strong enough…" April sobbed. "Donnie..., I'm sorry."
"April… please!" Donnie begged April to continue holding on. He could really hear the fright in his little brother's voice now, Donnie knew…he was about to die. Just seventeen years and this is how his life comes to an end. Mikey let out a sob of pain as the realization of what was about to happen plagued his mind.
"Keep fighting, April." The orange masked Turtle begged.
Za-Noran took control of April's mind once more holding her hand out Donnie seemed to glow with the same bluish-white light that surrounded April
"APRIL, PLEASE!" Donnie screamed out one last time in desperation as April closed her fist as though crushing something.
And then 'it' happened...
It was over in an instant, a horrible instant. Donnie was there for one last moment; his body seemed to flicker a few times and then shattered outward in a burst of purple dust. The pain he felt was like a blade had been plunged into his heart!
"DONNIE!" He screamed his brother's name horror, Raph also screamed out the same, his voice an echo of his older brothers.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" Mikey howled in grief! In the sky, the girl who had taken their brothers life, let out a yell that was both a roar of triumph from a demon and a scream of anguish from a girl whose heart had just been torn in two.
Lightning struck the aerial tower sending the three remaining Ninja Turtles to the rooftop below. And rain began to fall as though the very sky itself was openly weeping for the tragedy that had just taken place.
Leo sat up in bed with a start, his chest heaving as his heart beat to the point where he felt it would burst out of his plastron. His stomach roiled as he slapped a hand over his mouth; throwing back the covers he rolled out of bed and raced to the restroom.
Entering the first toilet stall he retched the digested remains of whatever he had eaten earlier that night into the porcelain bowl before him. He panted a few times before he gagged and heaved again. When he felt the wave of nausea had passed he flushed the toilet and drank a cup of water to wash the sour taste of old pizza and bile from his mouth. Spitting the liquid down the drain he clutched the sink to steady himself as he struggled to calm the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm him.
There was nothing to be distressed about anymore. Thanks to April, Donnie was still alive and he was home safe in his room. Yet the whole thing had been so miraculous it felt more like a hopeful dream then a reality. Though the hopeful dream was far better the nightmare that had occurred barely an hour before hand.
What distressed Leo most about the past evening's events was not the fact that the gentlest of his brothers had been destroyed before his very eyes. And it wasn't the fact that the person doing the act was someone he had come to know and respect as family and member of his own team.
What bothered him most was that there was nothing he could do to prevent it from taking place. Injuries in battle were one thing because that was inevitable; it was one of the hazards of their life style. They lived by the sword and died by it, and occasionally it was possible to get seriously hurt and even die as a result. But as a team they had everyone's back in any sort of danger, they would give their lives for each other if they had to.
But this…this wasn't just his brother murdered before his eyes…Donnie had been executed. And April, no not April…Za-Noran, the Aeon just smiled in satisfaction as it happened. When they had fallen to the rooftop of the TV station, he found Donnie's eye mask left discarded next to him, the purple fabric soaked through with the rain. Numbly he picked up the sodden strip of cloth wishing to any of the holy powers that be that this was just a nightmare. Unfortunately it was both a nightmare and a reality.
So many emotions flowed through his mind as he knelt on the wet rooftop, hate, anger, sadness, remorse….failure. He had failed his brother this night and he was supposed to be the leader. A cry of anguish threatened to erupt from his chest. He had no words for what happened…no solution. Their brother was gone and nothing they said or did would bring him back. He didn't even want to imagine the look on his father's face at the news, nor did he want to imagine what his brothers would do once the shock of their brother's death lessened.
They were still on a mission. There was another…another member of their team who still could be saved. They had to focus on saving her…once the mission was over they could truly begin to mourn what they have lost.
Miraculously Donnie hadn't been destroyed as they had feared. His body had only been molecularly scattered and April the girl who had supposedly destroyed him was the one who restored him to the living. His brothers, Casey, and himself had watched in awe as numerous points of purple light gathered together creating a vaguely turtle shaped being that coalesced into the familiar form of Donatello before he limply felt to the ground. With all the grace of a newly born deer Donnie got to his feet again weakened and disoriented…but alive. April was so over joyed she had run to him jumping into his arms with a loving embrace but soon after collapsed in exhaustion herself.
Despite looking as though he would more than likely join April in the bliss of unconsciousness, Donnie had insisted on carrying April back to the lair. Leo had reluctantly chose to allow this, Mikey and Casey had taken up the task of helping Raph back to the lair, and Leo knew he couldn't carry both Donnie and April on his own. Still he did keep a close eye on his brother to make sure he didn't pass out before they reached the lair. It was only when they had reached the turn styles that Leo had gathered April from where she had rested along Donatello's back and carried her to the recessed couches in the pit. In his weakened state Donnie going down the steps with April was face plant waiting to happen.
Splinter had been glad to see each of his sons alive, a look of great relief filling his eyes. Confirming to Leo that Splinter had also felt the impact of Donatello's sudden loss though he had not been certain as to which of his sons the feeling pertained to. Leonardo couldn't help but feel eerily reminded of how Splinter must have felt all those months following the invasion. Alone for days searching the city looking for some sign…some hope that his children were alive and safe. Forced to live as an animal in order to survive in an empty city where danger lurked, and every day that passed his mind began to slowly lose any reason to remain human.
Sighing as the elevated anxiety he was feeling began to ease Leo left the rest room to return to the dorms. Resting his hand on his bed room door, his eyes couldn't help but fall on the room that was next door to Raph's. Something in his heart told him that he should check on his brother make sure he was truly alright.
Moving to the door of Donnie's bed room he knocked a couple of times to let Donnie know that someone was about to enter the room. Opening the Door his eyes scanned the darkened room until they landed on the bed. Donnie lay asleep as expected though not exactly in the most comfortable of positions. Mikey had climbed into bed with Donnie sometime during the night and had his arms wrapped around his brothers torso as though afraid Donatello would disappear if he didn't hold on with all his might. This would be sweet, however the bed Donnie normally slept in wasn't all that big. It was closer to a foldaway cot then anything else. In order to accommodate Mikey, Donnie had to awkwardly curl his body around his younger brother which left him more half way on the bed and half way off.
Shaking his head at the sight, Leo carefully disengaged Mikey's arms from around Donnie's body and carefully carried his baby brother across the hall to his bedroom and tucked him into his own bed. Closing the door behind him he returned to Donnie's room. Taking care not to wake his second brother, Leo shifted his brother's body so that he was lying in a more comfortable position and adjusted the blankets around him. Sitting at the edge of the bed Leo gently ran the fingers of his left hand down his brothers cheek. Donnie stirred in response but didn't wake from his slumber.
Leo's eyes traced every inch of his brothers face and body as though confirming for himself that this was truly Donatello and not some figment of his wishful thinking.
"I'm impressed Donnie, you're taking everything rather well." Leo recalled Raph commenting after they had filled both Donnie and Splinter in on what had occurred.
"Yeah, I'd totally be wigging out if it was me." Casey had agreed.
"I suppose so…" Donnie said after a few moments. "I'm a little shaken, but otherwise I'm alright." Leo's eyes narrowed in thought, but quickly dismissed it. Still he couldn't shake the feeling his brother wasn't as alright as he wanted them to believe. His brainy habitually didn't talk about his problems, but instead he would withdraw and go work in the lab. Ever since they had been in space…no before that, ever since the farm house, Leo had started to feel like his brother was drifting away from them. Not in the same way Raph had been drifting not that long ago. But at times, Leo would get this sense that Donnie was like a child lost in a dark and foreboding wood, one where people went to die such as, Aokigahara.
Leo made a mental note to talk to his brother about this when whole issue with the Shredder was done. Right now his brothers needed to recover and prepare themselves for this would be their deciding battle with their greatest enemy. That was the most important thing to do right now…at least he hoped so.
"We nearly lost you tonight, D," He softly said to the darkened room. "I failed you when you needed me most. I wasn't fast enough stop what Zanaron, from destroying you and I was so useless I could do nothing but watch you die before my eyes. I never want that to happen to any of us…never again. We will need you in the coming battle, Donnie. I will need you, please get better soon, okay." Leo sighed feeling he should be doing more as he left the room to return to his own. But only time would truly determine what sort of horror that still rested upon his family, and his brothers mind.