TMNT - Worlds Change

Twenty - Eight

Donnie POV

The four of us stumbled into the lab with Raph. We expected a fight from him, but he just gave up. Mikee glanced at me and slipped back out to Iris, making sure the girls were alright. I turned, looking at my troubled brothers, plural. Raph sat with his back to the wall, but Leo was leaning on the chair looking defeated.

"Alright. What gives?" Leo glanced up at my words, but Raph spoke.

"She's never gonna take me back is she? She probably hates me." Raph seemed so vunerable. It was scary. "I was just trying to protect her, protect us. I was scared to lose her. He was just acting so smug and I just lost it. I should have... I could have... I would have killed him. She stopped me. I'm such an idiot." I walked over to where Raph was and sat beside him.

"One, you wouldn't have killed him. Mikee threw his nunchuck and Atlas had pulled a Kunai to block it. Bellona just happened to hit it first. Secondly, Bellona won't hate you. I'm sure she will understand, and last I checked, she hasn't let you go yet." He looked up at me. "You are strong, protective, and sometimes act rashly. She will understand. Athena was upset about my past feelings for April, but understood when I explained."

"But I only overheard them talking. I can't explain being protective about something that I shouldn't have heard." Raph seemed trapped in his head.

"That is easy for you to say, Donnie," Leo chimed in. He seemed defeated. "Venus and Karai met. And to say Venus was jealous deserves understatement of the year." I looked at him with wide eyes, and felt Raph look up beside me. He started laughing.

"Venus is jealous of Karai? Seriously? You are literally the whole picture of loyalty, what does she have to worry about?" Raph seemed to relax after a little laugh.

"And Bellona isn't? She was ready to throw herself back into that burning pagoda right there by Leo when Venus went missing." I watched Raph's face shift a little. Hopeful.

Raph POV

"And you had a right to be worried about Atlas." We sat at the table with Leo, as he explained the conversation he had with Venus, as well as Karai's warning.

"So that is what Atlas meant by a few months ago. Physically, it was." I shook my head.

"Mentally, it was years for their minds." Donnie showed us a drawing Athena had shown him to explain it. "Basically, they were placed in a sort of dream state that feed them training and knowledge faster than they physically could master. The dream state basically hit fast forward on their mind to meet the same level as their bodies."

"And why Venus wouldn't tell me her actual age." Leo rested for a second and sighed. "Guys, I need to level with you. I'll tell mikee later, but I'm sorry. For not keeping you in the loop and for putting Venus forward so much. She's... everything to me. And I know you guys understand." I held up a fist to him.

"It's cool bro. We all have gotten so caught up recently, I think you deserve a pass." Leo tapped his fist to mine and we all smiled, laughing at how these girls had changed us. We were civil with each other, for once.

"Raph! Donnie!" Athena burst through the door, panting. Donnie stood quickly.

"Athena, what's wrong?" My blood ran cold at her next words.

"It's Bellona."

Bellona POV

"Bellona!" I felt his arms around me. "What happened?" I blinked at him.

"You were right about Atlas. He attacked us, and took Venus. You have to save her. For me." He grabbed my hand.

"I need you, Bells. I need you to help me." I lightly shook my head.

"If you wait on me, you will be too late. He's taking her back to have her memories erased. She will be one of Shredders guard again, and won't be as easy to purge. Stop him. Save her. Promise me." I felt the dark creeping in when I heard his whisper.

"I promise, Bellona. I love you. I'm so sorry."

"I love... you... too." And then my vision faded.

Raph POV

I carried her back to the lab. Donnie told me she was alive, but she was in a coma. I wasn't angry. I wasn't afraid she would die; she was too strong for that. At that moment, April and Casey came in, our sensei's in tow. Donnie explained to them as I headed to the training room. Leo followed.

"What's our move?" Leo was already in his gear. The others were dressed for more than a battle. They were dressed for war. Donnie and Casey came in and started getting geared up.

"No one hurts one of ours and gets away with it. They don't take our people and think they will get away with it easily." I turned and looked at Leo. He wasn't looking at me with fear for Venus' life. He was angry, and I was an eerie calm. I never realized just how much alike we were until that moment. "Our move? Let's go raise some Shell."

Splinter POV

"Sensei? I'm doing everything I can, but she seems fine. The readings say she is in a coma, but her brain is completely active." I sighed, looking to Dante, who nodded his agreement.

"Her heart was betrayed and her body damaged. The coma could have been induced by the strike, but it is no ordinary coma. She is on a Spirit Journey." Young April looked at me, with confusion. "She must find her way back to herself, by means of her inner self. She is in a dream like state, in which she will discover her deepest thoughts, emotions, and likely even fears. Dante and I will meditate, and try to find out more on the causes." As I turned to leave, I glanced at Bellona. This young woman and her sisters had become like daughters to me. I t pained me to see her this way. I whispered to her, too soft for any to hear.

"Find your heart, young warrior."