Chapter 13

Aži Dahāka looked at Mikey. His concentration on Raph stopped as all of his attention turned towards Mikey.

"Did you just speak?" Aži Dahāka asked in disbelief.

Raph barely able to hold his own weight on his knees looked up towards Mikey, the one who devoted his life to never speaking to hold his vow for the pillars of stealth broke it.

With this diversion Leonardo worked with his arms clasped behind his back to use the earth under him to suck water up so he could quell the flames just a bit so he could reclaim Gunshin and free his brothers.

Mikey nodded his head to Aži Dahāka.

"I know what you want Aži Dahāka. Just like you, I know what you fear and what you love the most." Mikey said.

"Please I fear nothing. I love myself and power. There is nothing for you to take from me." Aži Dahāka scoffed.

Mikey shook his head.

"There will always be a part of me inside of you as you are within me." Mikey said.

Aži Dahāka shook his head a bit nervous for once. The turtles could see a slight shift in his body posture.

"You say you love power and yourself and this is true but there is something else you love. You say you fear nothing then why did your heart shake when I spoke of a fear that you don't have?" Mikey smirked.

Aži Dahāka lashed out in anger at Mikey. Taking out a small blade formed of dark energy and sliced it across Mikey's face. Mikey fell to the ground, his face bleeding from the blade as the flames pulled him back up to face Aži Dahāka. Leonardo, Donnie, and Raph looked towards Mikey as a newly created cut from the top of Mikey's left eyebrow down to the bottom of his right cheek. Mikey continued to smile as he stared up towards Aži Dahāka who was hovering above him.

"The one you love, the one that cherished more than life itself was taken from you. All because of one thing; you." Mikey said.

Aži Dahāka slashed again across Mikey's face. Another cut formed over his right eye. Mikey yelped in pain knowing he would never see again out of that eye. Raph struggled with newly found energy to free himself and stop Aži Dahāka. Donnie pleaded with Aži Dahāka to stop and Leonardo worked faster to break the binds around him.

"The one you loved was sick and you wanted to save them so you bargained with a man who just wanted a place to live. You agreed and let the man stay with you for three days and three nights. The man did the best he could but the one you loved was beyond saving and died on the fourth day. The man pleaded with you that he did the best he could but you didn't believe him. The man died on the seventh day after you couldn't do anything else to the man.

Grief took over your life after that day and finally on the eighth you were greeted by the one that controls life. You tried to bargain for your life but the specter said that the man you killed did the same thing. Spector gave you the ultimate punishment to live to find the man you killed and the one you lost. The power you have is only from now you roam the earth looking man you killed for not saving your life but at the same time you are running from the specter because you know what will happen when you see him again. You fear finding your son so you let hate corrupt your heart and soul." Mikey said with a smile as blood dripped down from his face.

This was the last straw for Aži Dahāka, winding up his blade Aži Dahāka swung embedding it into Mikey's throat just moments before Leonardo freed himself from his restraints. Leonardo took out Gunshin and released a powerful stream of blue flames point blank against Aži Dahāka's back. Aži Dahāka slashed his blade across Mikey's throat as he flew forwards from Leonardo's attack.

The flames died out and the remaining two brothers were released. Raph immediately ran over and caught Mikey into his arms. Placing his hands across Mikey's profusely bleeding throat calling for help.

"Donnie! Leonardo! Help me!" Raph pleaded.

Leonardo turned towards Mikey and Raph but was thrown into the air from Aži Dahāka. Donnie threw his hands over Raph's and held down as Mikey coughed out some blood from his throat. Mikey struggled for every blood filled breath as tears from himself and his two brothers fell off of his face. Mikey turned to Raph and placed his hands over Raph and Donnie's hand.

"Let me go." Mikey said.

Raph shook his head.

"Shut up Mikey! We're going to save you." Raph yelled.

"It's too late for me." Mikey said.

"What do you mean? We saved Leonardo we can save you!" Donnie stated.

"It is my destiny. I bare the soul of Saphira." Mikey said.

"What do you mean?" Raph asked in a horsed low voice.

"Saphira was killed in battle when the four dragons were found. It was her death that leads to the others to fight and return to the earth." Mikey explained.

Raph and Donnie looked at each other flabbergasted.

"Let me go. It's the only way to stop Aži Dahāka." Mikey whispered.

Mikey released his grasp on his brother's hands and let them fall to his side. Closing his eyes Mikey was ready to take his last breaths.

But Leonardo wasn't going to let this happen. The tale of Saphira rang through Leonardo's mind remembering through Timaeus's memory the fall of his sister. But as Saphira died Timaeus was able to save her by sealing her body in an ice coffin. Her body still remains to this day hidden from the world.

Leonardo ran over to his brothers. Gathering all the water he could from the earth Leonardo pushed Raph and Donnie away and gathered Mikey into a bubble of water. Concentrating Leonardo froze the water around Mikey and encapsulated Mikey in an ice coffin just as Timaeus did to save Saphira. Though the body remains the spirit wanders waiting to be reunited to her brothers in a different life.

Leonardo held back the tears as he said,

"He's still alive but he is also dead. I can do nothing more." Leonardo admitted with a heavy heart.

Raph ran over to Leonardo and grabbed him by the sash holding his swords.

"What do you mean!?" Raph demanded.

Leonardo shook his head. There was nothing more he could say. Donnie walked over and looked down at Mikey. Shaking his head Donnie walked over and pushed Raph and Leonardo apart.

"Leave the fighting to the true enemy!" Donnie yelled.

Leonardo and Raph looked at each other and nodded their head. The fight for Mikey's life would have to wait for another day.

"Let's do this." Raph stated.

The three remaining turtles looked towards Aži Dahāka as he stood high looking at his handy work.

"And history repeats itself." Aži Dahāka said with a smile.

Aži Dahāka charged towards the turtles. But this time they were ready. Leonardo swung with Gunshin as Raph pulled out Banrai and slammed him into the ground. The combined energy of the two mystical weapons pushed Aži Dahāka away. Aži Dahāka fell towards the ground and crashed into some trees. Donnie took out Byakko and swung it around in the air above him and released a circle of purple wind at Aži Dahāka. Aži Dahāka blocked the attack with his hands not noticing Leonardo appearing behind him. Leonardo embedded Gunshin into his chest and released a powerful blast of blue flame from the blade.

"By the dragon king's fire I ask for you Timaeus release the full might of your power. Show this man what it truly feels like to lose someone you care about!" Leonardo commanded.

Leonardo opened his blind eye as his body completely covered itself in his markings. Dragon wings appeared on his back in the form of mystical energy as Leonardo released his attack.

Aži Dahāka screamed in agony as his felt the same pain as the turtles felt from his flames but ten times as powerful. Aži Dahāka lay on the ground but he was still alive, summoning some of his remaining black and grey clouds Aži Dahāka pushed Leonardo away. Leonardo skidded on his heels as the cloud appeared just a few inches from his chest.

Aži Dahāka looked up as Donnie stood in front of him. Donnie stared down with a cold icy stare.

"Byakko I ask for your forgiveness but also your power. Use the wind as a means to show this creature to never mess with family!" Donnie yelled.

Donnie slammed the bottom of Byakko into the ground; cracking the ground under it a large tornado appeared and pushed Aži Dahāka high into the air. In a blur of movement Raph appeared hovering over him and Donnie under him. Summoning their mystic energy Raph's energy through Banrai created sharp claws and Donnie's energy through Byakko created a long talon over his arm.

"This is for Mikey." Raph said.

Raph and Donnie released his combined power into Aži Dahāka as they embedded their claws and talons into Aži Dahāka. As the three of them fell to earth Leonardo appeared in dragon form and caught Donnie and Raph. Aži Dahāka crashed into the ground, looking up he smiled as he felt something different than before. He felt like something was pulling him away. Aži Dahāka looked towards his right to see his small five year old son looking at him. Aži Dahāka smiled trying to touch his son as he whispered his name,

"Jericho."

Jericho nodded his head.

Looking towards his left Aži Dahāka looked over to see the man he tortured to death.

"Hello Caleb." Aži Dahāka said.

"Malachi." Caleb said.

"How long have you been waiting for me?" Aži Dahāka asked his son.

"For a long time father. I was reborn long ago but I still lost my life defending others. All I do is wait. Waiting for someone to save the dragons and to save you." Jericho said.

"I am sorry for not saving you." Aži Dahāka whimpered.

"You saved me for as long as you did. I wasn't longed for the earth father. But you know how much I love you and love the dragons I cared for in that life." Jericho said.

Aži Dahāka turned towards Caleb.

"I am sorry for what I did to you." Aži Dahāka said.

"Malachi I know the pain of losing a child. I lost my daughter to the same disease. I just wanted to tell you something so I waited." Caleb said.

"What is that?" Aži Dahāka asked.

"I forgive you." Caleb said with a smile.

In an instant all the dark energy inside of Aži Dahāka disappeared an in his place was an ordinary man with short black hair, dark tan skin, and tatter clothes with a rope tied around his waist.

"Father." Jericho said placing his hands on top of his father's cheeks.

Tears rolled off of Malachi's face placing his hands over his sons Malachi smiled and kissed his son's hands before pulling him into a deep embrace. His body shook as he held his son for the first time in years.

Malachi placed his son's hand into Caleb and pushed the two ahead of him. Jericho looked over to his father but Malachi shook his head.

"Go. I need to see someone." Malachi said with a smile.

Jericho tried to protest but Caleb pulled Jericho along with him to the afterlife. As Jericho and Caleb disappeared the specter that Malachi has been running from appeared almost instantaneously as his son disappeared.

"I have been waiting for you Malachi." The specter said.

Malachi nodded his head.

"I am ready for my punishment." Malachi said.

"You have already received it." The specter said.

"What do you mean?" Malachi asked.

The specter motioned over to the body of Michelangelo as it laid in his ice coffin with his three remaining brothers mourning over it.

"The lives you took as Aži Dahāka is more than enough punishment. You ruined the people you touch now tell me how what will you do?" The specter asked.

Malachi looked over to the four turtles his translucent body passed over as he looked at Mikey as he laid motionless with blood frozen over his face and throat from his blade.

"Can I save him?" Malachi asked.

"How? You have nothing left to give." The specter said.

"My life force, it still remains." Malachi said.

The specter looked at Malachi.

"I rather give my life for someone who deserves it. I have lived a cold dark life as Aži Dahāka now I want to do something even if I go to hell." Malachi stated.

The specter looked at Malachi then Mikey. Flying towards Malachi the specter gathered Malachi and took the remaining energy in his life and pushed it all into Mikey. The ice melted as the transferred continued. Malachi disappeared, no one knows where he went but all he cares about is his son and his last moment on the earth he sought to ruin then save the life he last took.

As the ice melted and the three brothers watched with nothing to do they looked down and in a gasp Mikey's eyes flew open. His wounds on his face and throat closed and repaired it. The three brothers grabbed Mikey and held him closely to their bodies. Mikey looked around confused but understood that his brothers needed him to do this.

After moments of silence the four brothers looked around at the world they saved. Returning to their home at the Ninja Tribunal the four turtles looked towards the future to what they were going to do in the years to come.

Leonardo returned to the Ninja Tribunal taking back his name as Ryuunosuke but in the present of his brothers he would be called Leonardo sometimes Leo for Mikey. Ryuunosuke opened the Ninja Tribunal to all people from different plains and worlds to train and become warriors. Ryuunosuke continues to train as head master with the help of a few people he named masters as well, a rabbit samurai named Usagi Yojimbo, a man with long red hair in a ponytail name Ue-Sama, and a woman with short black hair and red bandana tied across her forehead named Karai. Ryuunosuke remained the place to Hamato Academy and lives here to this day under the guidance of Timaeus.

Mikey returned to the same house where the Ancient One and Hisomi live at. Caring for the earth and placing his weapons aside Mikey turned to a life of nonviolence and works to heal the people still recovering from Aži Dahāka. Mikey changed his name back to Shin in the honor of his master Hisomi who named him this. Mikey lives to this day with Hisomi and the Ancient One in this small house on top of the hill.

Donnie left and traveled to the Battle Nexus thanks to Ue-Sama introducing him to his father the Daimyo. Donnie trains at the Battle Nexus with other people from different dimensions, each day Donnie is introduced to new people where his discussions long talks about life and what it means to truly be alive. Donnie lives with the Daimyo helping out with the day to day activities and the tournament each year. Donnie goes by the name given to him by his father but he still holds the name he was given to him by master Chikara.

Raph left to travel the world to see new things and people. Traveling to the United States Raph had a run in with a man with blue hair and a hockey mask where they fought each other, then fought with each other against a gang of thieves and murders saving the life of a woman with red hair. The two humans didn't shy away from Raph or his form and lets him live with the man named Arnold Jones who goes by Casey and works in a small antique shop with the woman named April. Still going by the name Raph by his father Raph threw the name he was given to him by his former master never speaking about it unless with his brothers.

Once a year the four turtles travel to the house of the Ancient One where they pay their respects to their father and the boy that helped save them from their selves. Then to the home of the fallen Saphira where she continues to lay miles away but close to the home of the Ancient One in the middle of the sea on a small cliff side mountain on a floating island.

Never once will they stop this life or wish it away because the memories created here are forever lasting. Through the tough times there will always be hope that the light will come and break through the darkness. But there will always be darkness because there can never be too much light in this world.

In a blink of an eye two eyes opened and adjusted to the light looking around they listened closely to the sounds of children talking. Opening the door two eyes looked forwards to the four individuals playing on the ground. Smiling from ear to ear the four individuals looked up and smiled running up to give a big hug. Four masked color flew and held on tightly as tears fell down onto their heads. Looking up the one with the purple masked why were they crying?

Sniffling the old rat said with a smile, "I just had a bad dream that is all my sons."