Splinter's Bestie

Chapter 26

Season 2, Episode 3: Follow the Leader 

This chapter will be shorter due to it not having as much Splinter scenes.

Ruby watches Splinter meditate silently with a devious smirk.

She wasn't going to attack him but she planned to make him feel like she was.

Splinter shudders for a second feeling Ruby's playful murderous intent.

Ruby suddenly sits up causing Splinter to flinch. Splinter relaxes upon hearing one of his sons enter the lair.

Splinter and Ruby watch in silence as Leo paces in front of them with a bothered expression on his face.

"Chicken Dumpling for your thoughts?" Ruby says finally.

"I don't know, mom. Maybe I'm not cut out for all this. I don't really think the guys respect me. I just... I just want to be a good leader, you know?" Leo rants while Nova walks in with a big smile on her face.

Nova was just happy to no longer have April walk her to and from school.

"Leonardo, a true leader doesn't always impose his will, but helps his followers flourish, grow." Splinter says before Ruby could open her mouth.

Nova walks over to sit next to Ruby eating a salad from school.

"Maybe I shouldn't be leading the team." Leo says sadly.

"Leo, my little space hero, how can your brothers believe in you as leader if you do not believe in yourself?" Ruby asks wisely playfully tapping her forehead with her index finger.

*

Meanwhile, Karai is training with her own foot bots.

Karai looks down at the picture of Tang Shen, before switching to the picture of Ruby and herself, smiling.

Foot bots come in ready to stealth attack but what they don't know is that Karai was a child of Ruby for a reason.

Karai easily takes them all down only for them to stand back up, having learned from the moves she used on them.

"Enough." Shredder says walking from the shadows. The Foot bot let's go of Karai's arm and they all stand at attention.  "The Kraang swore that these new foot soldiers would be deadly. They were true to their word." Shredder praises.

"I thought they'd finish me off, but you wouldn't let them do that, right father?" Karai asks hopefully.

"I am leaving for Japan to take care of urgent business. You are not to make any moves against the turtles until I return." Shredder said ignoring her question.

"But I told you-" Karai goes to say only for Shredder to summon his blades, threatening her.

"Disobedience comes with a stiff penalty, child." Shredder threatens.

"Even for your daughter?" Karai asks frowning.

"Especially for my daughter." Shredder says coldly walking away. (Endeavor who? Sorry)

Karai's frown deepens, "Maybe I should continue my search for Mama Ruby instead. At least she'd care for me." Karai mutters under her breath leaving not knowing Shredder heard her.

Splinter's words about Tang Shen using them and how Ruby tried to warn them, repeating in his head causing him to frown sadly.

**

Ruby looks into the living room from the kitchen and sees Raph, Donnie and Mikey walk in.

Ruby watches the boys wallow in sadness raising an eyebrow wondering where her oldest was.