TMNT - Worlds Change

Thirty - Three

Bellona POV

I hunkered down in the corner of my cell, watching and waiting for my next match. It was getting harder to keep up. Bruised ribs and bloodied lips. A shudder went through my body as I pulled myself into position to meditate. I had to focus. Kazuo was safe. He had to be by now. Raphael would take good care of him. No matter what notions she'd had, He was loyal to his family. 

"And here we have our most prized fighter. She's a looker too, isn't she?" I tried to ignore the glanced of the viewers. They were looking to make a purchase of a fighter. I knew this was coming. Eventually, my fears would be rewarded. But at least Shredder would never have my son.

"She is very beautiful." The voice made my eyes flash open. My heart caught in my throat. As I glanced over at the buyers, I noted his subtle change in height, the darkness of his hair, but those piercing green eyes he'd always had. I glanced away, fearing I had lingered too long on him.

"Well how about that? She even looked up at you, and she usually bites the hand off whoever tries to feed her. She won't eat or drink. Real good fighter though. Won't last much longer, however, her next fight is likely her last." In that moment, I could hear every breath in the room. I felt the eyes of the other captives on me, pity and sadness as they knew one of two things was about to happen.

"Tell you what." I felt electricity in the air. "She wins, you give her to me. No money attached. She loses, well like you said its your problem if she dies." I glanced at his hands. His hand clenched into a tight fist behind him. He was nervous. That I wouldn't win? Or that he would refuse?

"Well, what would I gain out of that?" The guy crossed his arms. "She loses, she's dead." 

"Then we will give you some money in exchange for the lose. I'd like to see our fighter in action." He glanced my way, his eyes convying something to me I hadn't had in a long time. Hope.

Donnie POV

"Her stats are rising. Whatever is happening, it's working. I glanced over at Leo and Venus, who had been quiet for a while. They sat by the wall fast asleep. I sighed and went back to the data at hand. A warm coffee mug came to rest by my hand. I looked up at Athena.

"How is everyone?" Her eyes were so full of concern. With Iris attached and Bellona in such a state, it has been driving her crazy that she can't do anything more than be a field nurse. She's tended Venus' stiches and Leo's arm to be sure they were fully working again, and had straightened and labeled things in the lab. She was stressed and I could see it on her face. I pulled her to sit in my lap.

"They are all doing fine. Iris's stats are slightly elevated, but that's a normal elevation in such brain activities. Raph's heart rate is up, but considering what's been happening on the screens, it seems fair to say his adrenaline could potentially rise. And Bellona, her rates are statring to flutter back up some. See?" I showed her a few of the charts.

"I hope she's back soon." She glanced over at Bellona, and I gently held her at the waist.

"As soon as they can be, they will."

Raph POV 

Why did I agreed to this? 

"Gentlemen! We have a very special match up tonight," the ring announcer began. I missed the other name as I glanced at Leo. He leaned in and whispered to me. 

"Failsafe is in place. Are you sure about this?" He watched me closely, as I nodded.

"This is our best option." What Leo couldn't know is there were two motives behind this. The first is she had to fight her way out, meaning she was the one progressing the spirit journey, not me.  Secondly, this stealthy way of finding her gave us a easy getaway as long as things didn't go south.

Suddenly, the lights dimmed and Bellona was forced into the makeshift arena. In this light, It was easier to see the red of her hair, the bruises along her cheek and ribs. I clenched my fist. 

"Here we go."

Bellona POV 

I settled into the rhythm of the fight, matching pace with my opponent. While I was fast, she was steady on her feet. She managed to grab into one of my punches and flip me, sending me flying into the rails. I felt my back screaming in protest. Forcing myself back up, I centered in on her. We went several more rounds, until I was barely able to stand. My vision was fading in and out, but I kept standing to fight.

"Why do you keep fighting, little one? You could just end your pain here?" My opponent said it jeeringly, but her eyes showed only sadness for me. 

"Because. I have something worth living for. Worth seeing again." She paused, long enough to confuse her. I smiled.

"I can't wait to see the sky again." I launched myself up over her body and forced my feet to knock into her head. I fell in a heap behind her as she tumbled. I pulled myself to my feet, long enough to take in the cold silence of the room. I found his eyes in the crowd as they announced my victory. And as he did, he shook hands for the trade. I blacked out.

Raph POV

As we loaded her gently into the van, I watched the Dragons for any sign of aggression. It was as if they had lost the motive to keep fighting for her. As suddenly as the van moved, we were back at the lair, laying her gently on the bed in the lab. She awakened hours later, but it felt like minutes had passed.

"Kazuo? Is he?" Her words were soft and frightened. I rested my hand on hers.

"He's fine, Bellona." I heard footsteps coming. "In fact, I think here he comes now."

I smiled as the little boy came running in, straight to his mothers wide open arms. I helped her sit up and she held her son. After a moment, she looked at him, and gently brushed her hand over his arm, where the silver band appeared. She quickly turned it off, and removed it. The boys image shimmered to that of a young turtle. Hers soon followed. However, one thing was startling. His eyes were that bright silver of his mothers, but another color was more prominent. Green. Just like mine.

"Kazuo, can I have a minute alone with Raphael?" She smiled at her son, who bound off to tell the others she had awakened.

"Why did you go?" I grabbed her hands, far tighter than I meant to. She held back with a fierceness I had never felt.

"I was afraid. We had just said we weren't ready, and you weren't even sure if you wanted to have a child."

"At first I thought it was his child." I said it softly. She glanced up at me. 

"Whose? The only one I have ever loved was you Raphael. There's never been anyone else."

I watched her eyes, seeing the sincerity deep within her soul. I leaned forward, till our foreheads touched, our lips a moment apart.

"Come back to me, Bella. Please." 

Iris POV 

I felt the air return to my lungs as I slumped softly in the chair. Donnie came over quickly, Athena at his side. 

"Iris, what happened? What stopped?" I blinked my eyes back into the present, looking over at the two screens, which shared the same images. Still linked by a heartbeat. 

"Turn off the equipment. She's coming home."