The gunshots ring in Leonardo's ears, rattling his bones, and Destiny's scream ignites a fire in his belly. The turtle tries to stumble toward the edge of the building but his knee buckles and he hits the dirt with a heavy grunt, elbows digging into the pavement as he sucks in a choked breath.

"No...no..." he whispers, pressing his forehead against the ground as he clenches his fists. "Father, Destiny—" He gasps and jerks his head up, focusing his gaze on the boy laying slumped against the brick. "Diaval? Diaval, can you hear me?!"

The desperate note in his voice hitches. There has to be someone who's still with him, there has to, but Diaval doesn't stir. Leonardo's teeth grit and his chest burns, his breaths getting faster as he forces himself to keep his head up. Shredder turns away from the scene below him, his neck pivoting towards Diaval before he starts towards him.

"N-No, hey!" Leonardo shouts as he forces himself to move, to try and get up and get his scattered katanas back. "Shredder! FACE ME!"

The armoured man is deaf to the turtle's cries. He reaches Diaval and glares down at him for a second before winding up and sinking his foot into his gut. He grunts and tumbles back, his eyes just managing to flicker open before the Shredder lands another hit.

Leonardo forces himself to his feet and lets out another forceful, "Stop!"

Shredder's gaze is harsh as ever. He extends his blade, eyes on Leonardo, and the turtle swears that he can almost see the sneer beneath the Shredder's helmet. "You cannot win, turtle," he says. "You are not strong enough to protect them. They will fall by my hand...and I will start with him!"

"NO!"

He plunges his blade towards Diaval, but it never reaches its mark. Leonardo trembles with effort as he presses his katana against Shredder's tekkō-kagi. His eyes burn white and he bares his teeth, muscles straining as he forces the blade back.

"You'll have. To go. Through me," he pants.

Shredder's eyes narrow. "Fool."

A warmth spreads from the base of Leonardo's skull throughout his whole body, filling him with memories of pizza parties and laughter and long nights racing across rooftops with his brothers and his friends. He can feel fingertips against his ankle and although he wants to, he doesn't dare look down at Diaval even as his rough voice rings in his head.

"Remember who you fight for. Be strong."

It isn't profound. It isn't a speech that gets his heart pounding, but it gives him the boost that he needs. Leonardo shouts and shoves with all his might, getting Shredder away from Diaval in a second, and he doesn't give his foe a chance to regain his bearings as he starts slashing and jabbing and spinning in a blur. Leonardo is fuelled by hatred for the man before him, but above that, he is moved by truth, justice, passion, and a fierce, blazing love for his family that cannot be put out.

"You have only delayed the inevitable," Shredder taunts as they exchange blows. "The blood of your clan will water the earth."

"Not if I can help it."

Leonardo keeps pushing Shredder back, running through every move in his arsenal like a programmed fighting machine. Shredder is a challenging opponent, as he always has been, but Leonardo has been training for this moment and there is too much at stake. A loss means that the war continues on. A victory means peace.

Both sides land hits. Leonardo feels his skin being sliced open, sweat and blood mingling and rolling down his skin like tears, but he is numb to the pain. Splinter would not give up and neither will Leonardo. Their meticulous dance missteps with exhaustion and crescendos with determination, dipping and slicing and taunting at every turn. They are dancing with death and by the end, Death will choose his partner.

Leonardo gasps as Shredder's blades graze his plastron and snag against his arm. He almost buckles, but brings his sword back to brace against Shredder's gauntlets and for a split second, Leonardo feels the world freeze around him. The stench of iron and sweat linger in the air, scratches line his shell, and the cold air stings his face. Shredder is at the edge, his heels brushing the precipice. Diaval is a bruised, crumpled mess. Somewhere below him, Destiny and Splinter could be dead, but they could be alive. Far away, his brothers are still fighting for their freedom.

The moment ends and with a final shove, Oroku Saki topples from the rooftop and far below, the pavement waits to catch him. Leonardo looks away, just able to hear the crash and the deafening silence that signifies that the battle is won, and he puts his katanas away. Somehow, he makes himself move and look over the edge, just able to see his fallen enemy. The cool winter sun peeks over the horizon, reaching out to tickle the dreary city with its long yellow fingers.

"It's over," he whispers.

The adrenaline rush leaves as suddenly as it came, sucking him of his strength and leaving him dizzy. His world spins and he tries to grab the ledge and steady himself, but his arms buckle and he collapses into empty air.

As he tumbles, he feels himself drifting away as if on a cloud. He lands on something sturdy and smooth, the darkness taking hold of him as he slips away.

----------

On the street, two engines disturb the morning quiet as Raphael and Michelangelo pull up to the hotel in the Party Wagon, followed closely by Casey and April in the ShellRaiser. They park and climb out, both bruised and battered, but still alive and relatively okay.

"This is it," Michelangelo says, looking up at the flickering logo at the top before double-checking Leonardo's text message on his t-phone.

Raphael frowns, looking around the street. "Then where's Leo, Splinter, and Diaval?"

There's a soft ding as the ShellRaiser doors slide open. Casey climbs out with April at his side, his arm wrapped around her middle as she limps towards the turtles.

"Any sign of them?" April asks.

"Nada, dudette," Michelangelo says with a sad pout.

Casey glances around, dark eyes widening as he points to the alleyway next to the hotel. "Then what about that?" he asks as he points.

April gasps, hand flying to her mouth, and the brothers turn around, following Casey's finger to where Shredder's body lays in a concrete crater. They stare at their enemy, indescribable feelings churning their stomachs and pounding in their chests. April looks away first, pressing her forehead into Casey's shoulder.

"If that's Shredder, then...then where's everybody else?" April asks. "Leo? Splinter? Donnie?"

None of them can get an answer out, scared of what the truth could be. Michelangelo takes a few deep breaths and turns away, reaching to wipe his eyes, when his face lights up and he nearly punches himself in the process of throwing his hands out and waving them.

"Guys! There!"

Sarina and Donatello hurry towards them as best they can, Diaval propped between them and their eyes wide. The second group dashes forward to meet them with exclamations of joy, both sides burning with questions.

"Guys, we...we got to the roof but Diaval was the only one there!" Sarina babbles. "We don't know what..." She trails off when she notices Shredder, her eyes flashing. "By Darwin's beard..."

"Where's Leo?" Raphael asks.

"Where's Destiny?" Michelangelo adds.

"Splinter?" April and Casey demand in unison.

"Splinter and Des are behind us," Donatello says. "Des got shot down by Tiger Claw. Broken wing..." He shakes his head and gulps.

"And Leo?" Raphael repeats.

"We went after Tiger Claw," Sarina says, "and when we lost him, we circled back to find Leonardo and Diaval, but...by the time we reached the roof, Diaval was the only one left."

"Leo..." Diaval groans, startling the teenagers as he lifts his head. "Leo...got Shredder."

"Woah, what?!" Donatello gasps, craning his neck to look at the tall boy. "You're serious?"

"It's fuzzy, but...yeah. Saw 'em fight, then—" His face pales. "Blacked out, dunno where he went."

"But he defeated Shredder?" Casey repeats.

"Mhm."

Stunned silence blankets them for a moment before Michelangelo whispers a soft, hesitant, "Booyakasha, bro."

"Where is he now, though?" Casey asks.

There's a beat, but that's all Raphael needs to react. Without another word, he sprints for the hotel that's towering above them and deploys his grappling hook, climbing up the walls faster than he ever has before. He can hear the others following him but he never slows down as he scrambles upwards. He reaches the top and his gut plunges into his feet when he's greeted with nothing but empty space.

"LEO!" Raphael shouts, cupping his hands around his mouth. "LEO!"

There's no reply as Donatello, Michelangelo, and Sarina arrive. "Raphael," Sarina says with a plea to her tone. "He is not here, there is no—"

"LEONARDO!" Donatello tries, drowning out her words.

Still nothing. Raphael kicks the ground and lets out a shout that echoes in the air. Michelangelo steps closer and rests his hand on his brother's shoulder as his head droops, breaths heaving. Just as Donatello moves to join the comfort circle, Raphael's phone buzzes and it's in his hand in an instant. His eyes widen at the text message and he shows it to his brothers as Sarina bunches in with them.

L: I'm in the sewer tunnels near the lair. North. Track my t-phone.

"He's alive," Raphael breathes.

"Then let us make haste!" Sarina urges.

Michelangelo pulls himself away, peering over the edge of the building. "Wait, dudes, I see Splinter and Des!" he says, waving them over with a cheery grin. "Man, I am on a roll in 'find the family members' today."

They waste no time in rejoining Casey, April, and Diaval on the ground, the family gathering on the street across from the hotel. Splinter greets them, relieved that the most that they suffered are some cuts and bruises. Destiny is still curled up against his chest, her face peaceful yet twinged with pain as she sleeps. He wings are folded at an awkward angle, utterly useless, and her arm lays across her chest with a bloody piece of Splinter's kimono tied around it.

"Did you find Leonardo?" Splinter asks.

"We got a text from him just now. He's in the sewer tunnels," Raphael says.

Their father's gaze grows dark. "And what of the Shredder?"

A few glances are exchanged before April whispers out, "Gone."

Splinter's face reflects both sorrow and pride. "The other mutants?"

"A little tied up at the moment." Raphael managed a small smirk. "Once Casey showed up, it was a cinch. When they find out about Shredder, they'll probably buzz off."

There's a rumble from down the street as Bebop and Rocksteady's van pulls up and parks. Emery and Fishface climb out the back and move to Shredder's body, gathering him up and carrying him away. Raphael growls and starts towards them, but Splinter's hand on his shoulder stops him.

"The battle is done," Splinter says as Emery casts a brief glance at them, malice in her eyes. They climb into the van, shut the doors, and drive away. "They are already in retreat. There is no more need to fight."

They watch the van until the headlights disappear and the engine noise fades. Casey eyes the ever lightening sky, pursing his lips as he reaches over and nudges Donatello.

"We need to go. Everyone's gonna wake up soon," he warns.

There are a few mumbles of agreement. Together, the tired clan goes home.

------------

Leonardo blinks a few times, the familiar stench of the sewers smacking him in the face. As he looks around, it's evident that he isn't in the lair and the realization sends a shot of panic through him. As he pushes himself into a seated position, he notices that his wounds have been bandaged. He stares at his arms as if they are not his own.

He lingers for another moment, waiting to see if someone else will show, but he hears nothing so he stands up. His body aches, reminding him that once he gets some more rest, he'll need to do some thorough stretching with the others. At that, his thoughts return to his family and a sick feeling worms its way into his gut.

"Father, Des...please be alive," he murmurs.

He reaches for his katanas only to find his sheath empty. His pupils dilate and he spins in tight, confused circles, checking his immediate surroundings but finding nothing. As he groans, something moves in a nearby tunnel and it dies in his throat. The shape moves closer and he searches for any kind of makeshift weapon only to come up empty-handed, cursing his luck further.

A soft hissing winds through the tunnels as the creature reveals itself, poisonous green eyes latching onto Leonardo. His breath leaves him and his mouth drops open.

"Hello, Leo. It'ssss been a while," she says softly.

"Karai?"