TMNT - Worlds Change

Thirty

Leo POV

"Last I checked, Firing on a down man is without honor. You were the one to teach me that. Not Dante." Atlas pressed forward, tossing Kunai and swinging his ninjatō at his torso. Raph, Mikee, and Donnie, came in for the attack, each giving a blow that opened a cavity in his chest. Atlas came in for the final blow, taking a leap into his chest to deal the final blow. But just as his blade pierced him, Shredder raised up his bladed arm. Atlas stumbled back, blood on his along his stomach. Donnie and Athena reached for him, Iris already by his side. Shredder fell to his knees.

"Like Father, Like Son." With pain he took of his helmet and tossed it to the ground, looking Venus right in the eye.

"If only, dear daughter, you could have been everything I hoped. No matter. I'm sure something will bring out your full, Potential." His eyes slid shut and he fell to the ground in a heap. I unbound Venus and we all found our way over to Atlas.

Raph POV

"Raph, I am so... so sorry about what happened with Bellona. I was under his control the whole time, except for a brief moment of guilt. And Venus I never meant those things as a kid. He was always in control of me. He forced me to do it, to prey on Bella... Is she alright?" Atlas looked up at us all with brilliant emerald eyes. Just like mine. I sighed.

"As far as alright goes, she is alive. Of which, we need to get you back to the lair if there is any chance of you surviving." The guys and I hoisted both him and shredder's body back to the Battle shell.

Venus POV

It had been two days since the battle, and we were all worn from the wins... and the losses.

"I can't believe he was under shredder's control. And all this time." Standing to the side with Iris and Athena, I felt guilty for Atlas's fate. He had never meant for any of this to happen.

"It's not your fault, Venus. We had no idea then." Athena rested a hand on my shoulder as we watched the flames of two cremation pyres burn at the end of the tunnel, just above the sea.

"At least he had a chance at honor."

We watched until the very last ember was dark.

Leo POV

"You sure you wanna do this, Atlas?" I walked alongside Raph and Atlas down a tunnel corridor, just down the hall from the funeral pyres.

"It's the right thing to do. The girls need me out of their lives and I need to find myself again. Who knows, maybe I'll head south. They may not have the same sewer's as here in New York, but maybe I'll find a swamp or something." He smiled. His injuries had been severe, but with Splinter and Dante's healing hands, he was alright.

"Well, if you ever need us, you know how to find us," I handed him a shell cell with all our numbers in it, "and don't hesitate to call if you need us."

"Thanks, Leo." He made his way down the tunnel and out of our sight. Raph leaned on my shoulder.

"So when did you plan on telling Venus. I thought some good news would be good for her right now." I shook my head.

"I was going to tell her after Bellona... wakes up." I looked down, feeling his worry as he moved away, leaning against the wall. "About that... what do you remember about Splinter's teachings on spirit journeys?"