The snowflakes drifting lazily from the grey sky onto the sleepy streets have the potential to be beautiful, but Diaval is more focused on his pounding, aching head and the clenched hands around his trusty bow.

Shredder and Splinter duel one another with precision, lethal swipes and narrow dodges, locked in a battle fiercer than ever before. Diaval feels his stomach churn and another wave of pain rolls through his brain as he is reminded of the last time he lingered and watched his former master battle Splinter.

"This will be the end of you, Hamato Yoshi," Shredder growls, blades glinting as he adjusts his stance. "No more will you haunt my waking days with your presence."

Splinter steadies his fast breaths with the cool, calm expression that he tries to uphold at all times. "If you finish me today, I will continue to haunt you in death," he states.

They lunge again. Diaval focuses in every ounce of energy he has on Shredder, but his desire is rampant and the possibility is within his grasp. No matter how many images of Splinter's corpse Diaval throws into Shredder's head, the hold breaks far too swiftly. Shredder knows that he is close to victory and that does not bode well for Diaval.

He releases what little hold he can find with a heavy exhale, his stance wobbling as he tries to catch his breath. Shredder's aura, his cold, evil wishes, seep into Diaval's bones as if he's being submerged in ice water, pushed beneath the surface so that he's struggling for breath.

He's not alone in this. Splinter grows more and more exhausted after every swipe and while Shredder is too, he is fuelled by his hatred. Diaval grits his teeth and switches his attention to Splinter, projecting good memories onto him, letting them flow from him. Diaval shows Splinter all of the times that Diaval went for coffee with Karai and she would laugh and act like a regular teenager. He shows him the times at the farmhouse when Michelangelo told stories or they watched cartoons and ate snacks. He shows him every good memory that he can and wills him to fight a little longer.

Splinter's ears perk and he casts a brief glance to the pale boy, the faintest of smiles on his lips as he grips his emerald sword a little tighter and reengages his foe. Diaval pulls out his phone, rereading Leonardo's last message, the response to Diaval's call for backup.

L: Be there soon. Hold on.

He purses his lips and pockets the device. "Tch, better hurry," he mumbles.

There's an incoherent shout from Splinter and Diaval readies his bow.

----------

Leonardo can see the Wolf Hotel in the distance, his heart pounding in his ears as he wills himself to move faster. His thoughts are rampant, dashing between assured and frantic in duelling mindsets that he can't get a grasp on.

Are his brothers okay? Are Destiny and Sarina and April okay?

Of course they are, he tells himself. Why wouldn't they be? They fight Shredder's goons all the time.

Yeah, but will they reach me in time? he wonders. If Shredder and Tiger Claw are both up there, will Splinter and Diaval be alright until he can get there? Will the three of them be able to hold them off until the others arrive?

Shut up, Leo. You planned this for so long, you can't let doubts get you down now. Breathe. Remember your training. This will end tonight, one way or another, and it is not the time to be afraid.

He reaches the hotel base and deploys his grappling hook. It latches onto the lowest fire escape and he zooms upwards with a click of the trigger. Landing on the platform, he casts his gaze upwards for a second, just able to catch a breath before he keeps climbing. The sounds of battle get louder. There's the unmistakable sound of metal weapons clashing, mixed with grunts and shouting roars.

Did I send that text? He frowns and glances at his phone. The others need to know his status and if he didn't send that message—wait, no, he remembers. He stopped to send it just a little while ago.

Focus, Leo!

Leonardo reaches the rooftop, already reaching for his weapons. Shredder has his back to him, putting him at an advantage. Splinter is still standing, but he's got some cuts and tears in his clothes. Nearest to Leonardo is Diaval, laying on his side with his bow knocked away, scattered arrows littering the entire roof. His white hair is stained at the fringe and blood trickles down the side of his face.

The turtle hesitates before moving to his side. "Diaval," Leonardo says, reaching out to shake the boy. He groans at the movement and Leonardo's eyes narrow with urgency. "Diaval!"

His eyelids flutter for a moment and Leonardo catches a glimpse of the whites, but he remains unresponsive. Gritting his teeth, Leonardo stands and turns to the duelling adults, gripping his katanas tight.

He leaps forward and swings his swords towards Shredder's back, but his enemy whirls around and catches the blades against his own. Their eyes lock and the mutual malice is enough to freeze magma.

"Foolish turtle," Shredder utters, a sick amusement lilting his tone. "You've come just in time to witness the end of your master."

Shredder forces him back and Leonardo skids against the rooftop, fire in his eyes, and Splinter goes for the distraction. "Leonardo, leave!" he shouts as the tekkō-kagi whistles past his head.

Leonardo ignores his father's orders. Maybe under different circumstances, he would, but this isn't some regular mission. This is it. He will give his all in order to give his family peace.

He sprints back into battle with another swing at Shredder. He dodges the blow even with his back turned and pivots, landing a kick to his plastron and sending Leonardo flying into the "O" of "wolf". Sparks rain around him as he lands hard on his face.

Splinter swings his staff-blade, just nicking the skin of Shredder's cheek. His marred features twist with rage and he roars, sweeping his blades in for Splinter's torso and forcing him to jump backwards. They inch back with every swipe.

Diaval stirs and his eyes peel open. The pounding in his head hasn't subsided in the slightest and the scent of iron mingles in his nose. He forces himself up, muscles screaming, and he catches sight of Leonardo from across the rooftop as the blue-masked turtle slowly raises his head.

"Nhn...'nardo?" Diaval mumbles. The world tilts before him and he nearly collapses again as he grips his head, eyes shut.

"Diaval," Leonardo returns, just able to raise his voice enough to get it across the distance between them. He gets back to his feet and retrieves his katana. "Can you fight?"

"Doubt it."

"Then you need to retreat." His expression is less antagonistic and more, dare he say it, concerned. "You're hurt. Let us handle this."

"Gonna...try," Diaval says. He points to Splinter as the rat is knocked down. "Help 'im, hurry."

Leonardo doesn't need to be asked twice. He shouts and goes for a low strike, but it's like Shredder has eyes on the back of his head. He blocks and retaliates with the speed of a cobra. A few blows are exchanged and deflected, Leonardo refusing to back down, Shredder continuing to push him further.

He manages to leap away, gaining space to adjust his attack, but Shredder doesn't give him the chance. He lunges and grabs the strap of Leonardo's shell, swinging him around and slamming him into the ground. His swords fly from his hands and bounce away as he lets out a moan of pain. Shredder goes for a second hit and his foot comes down on his left knee.

Leonardo screams and Shredder laughs. "Weak child," he says, raising his blade above Leonardo's neck. "You never stood a chance."

There's a shout and Splinter reappears, tackling Shredder away from his eldest son. Leonardo props himself up on his forearms, sweat rolling down his face, every muscle aching as he stares at the battle before him. Splinter is managing to hold Shredder off, but the balance between the two of them is shifting. Every hit landed on Shredder merely glances off his armour. Splinter is far more exposed and far more at risk.

Splinter's blade flashes past Shredder's face, glancing off his shoulder, and Shredder takes hold of it before he can take it back. He wrenches the weapon forward and sinks his fist into Splinter's gut. The rat empties his lungs and doubles over, eyes wide, and Shredder wraps his arms around Splinter's middle.

His ragged breath lingers in the mutant's ear. "Now...you...DIE!" With the last word, he spins and throws Splinter from the rooftop.

"NO!" Leonardo's strangled cry rings in the air as he lurches up only to immediately crumble forward into a crouched crawl.

Shredder moves to the edge and looks over, basking in victory, but a blur whips past him and makes him stumble backwards. Destiny smiles down at the Foot Clan leader, wings spread and Splinter held tightly with her arms propped under his armpits.

Leonardo manages to breathe. From the other side of the roof, Diaval calls her name in relief. She winks at them and does a banking turn as she flies higher, further away from the Shredder, and Oroku Saki watches the spectacle with blazing hatred in his gaze. Even so, his body is steely as his armour.

Two gunshots shatter the silence.

Destiny screams. One wing goes limp, blood spattering the delicate black feathers. In the next moment, a blinding pain rips through her arm and earns another mangled cry. From the top of a neighbouring building, Tiger Claw lowers his gun with a dark look in his one eye.

She drops like a stone, plummeting towards the ground at an alarming rate. She flaps her one good wing desperately as the icy pavement gets closer and closer. Her grip on Splinter starts to loosen.

"Destiny!" Leonardo cries.

Diaval goes racing past him, stumbling over his own feet as he reaches the edge of the hotel. He thrusts his hands out towards his friend and musters his levitation magic, but it does little to nothing. His arms tremble with the effort, but it's no use. He crumples with exhaustion and they keep falling.

There's a flash of blue and white as Sarina appears on the horizon, rocket boots blasting at full capacity and Donatello dangling in her grip with his grappling hook in hand. She musters all of her strength as they get closer and closer.

"Donatello, switch!" she shouts.

She propels the purple-masked turtle forward, sending him front-flipping into the air, and Destiny manages one more flap before she gives out. It's enough for Sarina to snatch Splinter from her failing grip before she drops like a stone, wings surrounding her in a flurry of feathers and blood.

Donatello snatches Destiny from the air and secures her in his arms as he launches his grappling hook. It latches onto a nearby fire escape and he comes screeching to a halt, feet planting against the cold brick. Destiny whimpers at the jolt, curling against him and clinging to his chest strap like it's a lifeline, and he holds her tighter as he jumps back down to the ground. He carries her away, cradling her in his more than capable arms.

"D-Donnie," she croaks.

"Ssh...ssh...you're alright. Hold on," he soothes. Her rapid, shaky breaths fan his plastron, urging him to keep moving.

The wolf-raven blinks slowly, only able to make out his blurry silhouette, pain clouding everything else. "D...Don..."

"Hold on, Des. Stay with me," he begs.

He kneels on the frozen road, holding her top half off the ground with her legs resting on the pavement. Tears roll down her face as Donatello checks her wing and arm, able to see the bullet wounds far too clearly. As he holds her close, murmuring comfort, he watches the street and wishes for his family to arrive.

"Help...Leo," Destiny mumbles through gritted teeth. "H-He's still...Diaval's there—"

"Des—"

"Help them!" she repeats with more force, making herself wince as her wings try to flutter. She shuts her eyes and sucks in a breath. "I'll be f-fine, just...mnh, go."

The sound of scuffling makes her ears perk and Donatello looks up. Sarina hurries towards them with Splinter in tow, the tall rat limping a little but otherwise okay, and he takes Destiny from Donatello as carefully as possible. Sarina sinks down next to them and takes Destiny's hand, squeezing it gently.

"Donatello, you must find Tiger Claw," Splinter says. "He could be anywhere, waiting to attack again."

Donatello nods and starts to get up, but hesitates. He leans down closer to Destiny's perked ears and whispers, "Hold on, okay, little sister?"

Her tail thumps twice. "Okay."

He pulls his bō staff from its sheath and stands up, giving Sarina an expectant look. The cyborg presses a kiss to the back of Destiny's hand, offers an encouraging smile, and dashes off towards the building where Tiger Claw was last seen with Donatello at her side.

Destiny looks up at Master Splinter and notices a cut at the base of his neck. She raises her uninjured arm enough to point. "You're hurt," she breathes.

"Thanks to you, that is the least of my pain," he says. When she can hardly offer a smile, he musters a soft one of his own. "Thank you...for saving my life."

"Mhm, I...I had to," she whispers. She scrunches her eyes shut yet again, more tears rolling down her scarred face as her world spins and goes out of focus. "I-It hurts so...so much."

"It will be alright. You will be alright. Just rest."

She tilts her head against his chest. She can hear his heartbeat in her ears and she can feel her own heart still pumping. She is still alive, her father figure is still alive, and she hopes that when she comes back to her senses, everyone else will be the same way.

The pain numbs with sleep.