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Some TMNT stuff really isn't for little kids. |
Karai returns to the source of her power, the place where she first found her amazing sword, the Kira no Ken. With her are Casey Jones, Natsu, and Clyde-all on a mission as dictated by Toshiro himself. But what they find in the dark cave of secrets are things they don’t want to confront: their own dark fears manifested in the form of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! These guys are hard enough to fight in the real world, but think how bad it must be when they are, instead, figments of your own soul and privy to your worst fears and weaknesses!
Appearing in #4[]
Major characters[]
Minor characters[]
- Donatello (Manifestation)
- Hayashi Toru (Manifestation)
- Dark Leonardo
- Michelangelo (Manifestation)
- Raphael (Manifestation)
- Traveler
Locations[]
- Tōkyō Japan
- Foot Clan Safe House
- Takeshi Tatsuo's vault
Synopsis[]
Open in Tōkyō at a Foot Clan safe house. Krisa suddenly shouts “Eureka” and then a voice from nearby startles her. Krisa looks up to see Zodi clinging to a support pillar and asks where she has been. Zodi leaps down, displays her new prosthetic stinger, and explains that she’s been busy it, adding that she loves Japan because you can find just about anything. Then Zodi asks what Krisa was so excited about. In answer, Krisa pulls up the image of a building on her computer screen, saying that after a lot of dead ends, she’s pretty sure she’s found the Dog Star Clan’s home base. She starts to add that when Karai returns they can… but Zodi interrupts to ask where she’s gone.
Krisa answers that Karai didn’t say, but that she’d be gone for a few days and that she took Clyde and the humans with her. At this, Zodi writes off Karai and says that she led them to Japan and then not much else. She says that maybe the Dog Star Clan can offer them something better. Krisa protests, flatly saying no. Here, in the Foot Clan, she doesn’t feel like a servant the way she did with Null. Here she feels respected and doesn’t want to make another change. A suddenly angry Zodi stabs the computer screen with her new stinger and then shouts that Karai doesn’t respect them. She keeps them hidden and consults them about nothing, making them no better than tools. Then Zodi says Krisa can stay if she wants, but she’s leaving and shoves past Bebop. Being in a good mood, he ignores the insult she drops on him as she walks out. Bebop then notices that Krisa seems upset and wants to know if the “bug” said something. Krisa explains that Zodi gets mean sometimes when she’s mad, but that she’ll cool down. Bebop offers his and Rocksteady’s services to squish Zodi if she doesn’t.
Meanwhile, far to the North and deep in the Earth lies the secret cache of Takeshi Tatsuo. It has been opened and Karai leads the way down steeps steps, with Casey Jones, Natsu and Clyde close behind her. Casey wonders aloud why it isn’t darker so far underground, but Natsu reminds him it’s a place of magic. Hearing that, Casey wants to know why they didn’t bring Bebop and Rocksteady, because all they have is Clyde. Looking over at him, Clyde responds with “no offense taken”, and Casey says he knew what he meant. Karai explains to Casey that she does not trust Bebop’s and Rocksteady’s temperaments. If they offend any of the spirits in the place, they might never be allowed to leave. In an undertone, Casey says he hates magic.
Lowering his mask into place, Casey asks what they are doing – fighting zombies, answering riddles three, collecting a shrubbery? Karai says that his attempts at humor betray his fear, but that it is not misplaced. She lifts her own mask to cover the lower part of her face and adds that the cave will test them as it sees fit. They will triumph, or they will die. As she leads them onwards, Clyde points out that the gap she’s walking them towards is blocked by a huge rock. Casey begins to add that he didn’t pack any dynamite, when he suddenly finds himself standing on a New York City rooftop.
Perched atop a water tower on the roof is a version of Raphael, his bandana pulled down over his right eye. Raph tells Casey that it’s been a long time and doesn’t he recognize his old pal? Arming himself with a baseball bat, Casey refuses to believe he’s Raph and that this is some kind of weird magic. Raph counters that he is him and that this is some weird magic nonsense. He asks if Casey brought a shrubbery. Casey insists that he’s not Raph, who then tells him that Foot Clan dweebs never change. He leaps to attack, saying he’s gotta knock some sense into Casey and kicks him in the face, adding that it’s okay because Karai’s little followers like getting smacked around.
Meanwhile, Natsu finds herself standing knee deep in ocean water near what appears to be a small island. On the shore is Michelangelo, holding a surfboard and wearing board shorts, sandals, a cap and sunglasses. Natsu wonders if she’s in hell, to which Mike replies that this is a whole metaphysical kinda thing, but it’s all good. Natsu disagrees and opens fire on him, shooting a hole in his surfboard. Mike asks why she did that because he would have let her have a turn. She continues to shoot at him, demanding to know why he’s there. Dodging bullets, Mike answers the question with a question and then says if she’d rather hand with someone else, he won’t stop her.
Just as Natsu tells him to stop talking in riddles, the scene changes. She is now standing in a control room, one wall covered in monitors and the opposite holding different types of weapons. The floor and wall is splattered with blood. Natsu recognizes it as her grandfather’s home and a voice nearby acknowledges the fact. She turns to see Hayashi Toru, holding his head in his hands. He tells her that hell should be familiar, but Natsu says Mike told her it wasn’t hell. Toru says that the Turtle is a ninja and ninja’s lie. As Natsu mumbles under her breath about Casey learning there were zombies, Toru places his head back on his neck. Natsu asks him what the point is of these games and why she’s being shown this place. Toru answers that she faces a test of the spirit and he’s to be her judge. He then lifts his fists and tells her to fight him. Raising her hands, Natsu refuses, stating that she doesn’t want to fight something that wears her grandfathers face. He tells her the face is his own and she has no choice as he swings a punch at her, which she blocks with her arms. Natsu continues to dodge away from his attacks while he says that fighting is all she’s ever been good at and orders her to show him.
Elsewhere, Clyde finds himself face to face with a cybernetic Donatello in what appears to be an underground tunnel. Clyde wants to know why they are fighting because they barely know each other. Don tells him that he owed a favor to a powerful being, so he’s there to test Clyde, which he considers a waste of his time. Clyde asks what kind of test it is, and if he has to kill Don, who scoffs at the idea. He does answer though, because he wants to get this over with. Don tells him that it’s a test of character and asks if he can plumb the depths of his soul. He wants Clyde to admit why he came to Japan and to do so while fighting for his life. Clyde immediately answers that he came to forget Bonnie. Don is incredulous, saying that Clyde was supposed to plumb the depths of his soul. Clyde explains that she is his soul, that she’s always right at the top, and that’s the problem. He says that Bonnie has changed, that she’s Venus now and he can’t force things to be like they were. He’ll never get her back, so he left to get away from the memories. Don stops trying to kill him and says that was boring, but it looks like Clyde passed the test. As Don fades away into wisps of smoke, he wonders if the others are as self-aware as Clyde.
On the rooftop, Casey strikes Raph hard with a cricket bat, knocking him down. He then says that he’s not following anyone and that he’s not in the Foot Clan. Casey explains that he’s just advising Karai to help change how she does things. Raph spits out blood and informs Casey that people only take advice if it goes their way and you can’t make them better. He leaps up and strikes Casey, knocking his mask off as he tells him he has to admit that. Casey glares and says that Raph sounds like his dad, and that makes him angry. He replaces his mask, saying he thought his friend Raph understood better than anyone that people can be better. If he believed otherwise, there’d be no point in helping anybody. Casey takes another swing at Raph, but the bat passes through the Turtle as he vanishes. Now alone, Casey wonders if that means he wins.
Toru shouts at Natsu that she always wished him dead, but that she was afraid to end him herself. She continues to dodge his attempts to strike her as he tells her that she no longer needs to be concerned about any responsibility she might face. He says she’s free to be who she really is – a soulless killer. Finally Natsu responds, saying she’d be hurt if her grandfather didn’t know her better. She says she’s always been a good fighter but that’s never been what she wanted, it’s just all she’s ever had to offer. Natsu guesses that he’s pushing her to fight because he needs her to and that maybe to pass the test, she has to be true to what she really wants for once. Whether or not that’s the key and she might die, she’s going to die peacefully. Natsu rushes forward and embraces her grandfather, saying she’s going to say a proper farewell to the man who raised her. Toru closes his eyes, says ‘very good’, and vanishes.
Deep in another chamber, Karai finds herself alone and begins calling out the names of her companions. She receives an answer and turns, saying that she remembers its voice, calling it by name – Traveler. Karai reminds it that it helped her before and asks if it will help her again. Traveler says not yet and informs Karai that her companions have pass their tests, but she still needs to pass hers. As a blinding wind swirls around her, Karai demands to know what that test is and is told that it’s the hardest test of all for her. She needs to face her own insecurities. Karai turns to see Dark Leonardo and she states that she’s beaten this Turtle already, so this is no test. Leonardo tells her that she believes she’s beaten him, but that he still lives and will only get more powerful. He adds that he’ll be powerful enough to take whatever she’s built whenever he wants. That, he says, is her deepest fear – losing her legacy to someone she doesn’t believe is worth it.
Their swords clash and Leo forces hers down before saying that maybe he won’t be taking the Foot Clan from her, maybe he’ll be taking it from Yoshi Chen. Karai tells him to be silent, but as she speaks, Leo’s sword gets past her guard and he slices into her bicep. Leo teases that she lost her focus and she shouts at him to stop talking. He asks if that’s so she can focus and that he won’t give up such an obvious advantage. As he is striking with his Tekkō-kagi, Leo says that if she wants him silent… before he can finish that sentence, Karai catches the Tekkō-kagi blades with her sword hilt, with her blade between both of his. She twists her sword and breaks off both claws on his weapon. With another quick swing of her sword, Karai decapitates her foe. As he begins to disintegrate, Karai says that the real Leo would not have talked so much.
Traveler appears to tell her that he spoke the truth about her fears. Yoshi Chen does threaten her legacy. It says that she wants rapid proficiency in magic to ensure her win and it senses she will do anything to achieve that goal. Karai acknowledges this to be true. Traveler says that it can help, but this time the price will be high and she may not wish to pay it. Karai answers that she will pay any price and tells Traveler not to ask her again. Traveler replies “as you wish” and flies up into the sky high above her. Traveler turns and comes speeding back down, striking and entering her chest hard enough to knock Karai backwards. Karai screams as a force rushes through her body and her left eye flashes as though shattered.
All four who ventured into the cave suddenly find themselves standing outside in the forest. Casey wants to know what that was and says that he feels funky. Karai stands with her back to them and replies that she has succeeded. Natsu kneels near a huge boulder, which now sits where the entrance to the cave used to be. She touches the boulder and says that it seems they will be the last to visit the cave, because the entrance is gone. Karai says it doesn’t matter because there was nothing else to take. She lifts a hand and produces a magical glow in the air before her, explaining that she now has complete mastery over every sort of magic the Foot Clan has ever used. Casey asks what it cost her and she turns, showing that her left eye now glows with a bright orange light. Karai replies that the cost was less than one would think. She waves her hand in a circle, and the interior of the Foot Clan hideout appears, with Krisa, Rocksteady and Bebop waiting. Karai says it’s time to go home, because there is a battle to plan.
Trivia[]
- Casey makes two references to 1975's film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail".
See also[]