(Hey guys. Merry after Christmas, and Happy 2017! Now, getting to what I want to say, I owe you all a huge apology for not updating this book for a long time. My last update was September, now it is February. Honestly, I lost some of my inspiration for this book, and was on writer's block. Now, I'm back, and I have fresh new ideas. I intend to finish this book, and update as frequently as I can. Also, thank you guys SO much for over 5k reads! I was speechless when I saw how many we hit, we were just at 2k! Now, for this chapter, it includes details of blood, slight cursing, violence, depression, and fighting. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this, on with the chapter! DISCLAIMER: I do not own TMNT or the characters in it. All rights go to Nickelodeon. This is not used to advertise in any way, or promote their property through this FanFic)

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(No POV)

Mikey only knew one thing at this point, he wanted to be home. Maybe he was there physically, but he wanted to be present there mentally and emotionally. With his Sensei, with his friends, with his brothers...

With his family.

Poor Michelangelo, how he was so frail like a feather and this point. Every time Shadow attacked him, every time he heard his claws, every time with the blood, every time he lost strength. Mikey wondered how much longer he could bare it all at this point. The only thing that drove his determination to live now was his brothers.

Shadow watched the young turtle from afar. The creature gave one thing to Michelangelo, he put up a good fight. But in the end, no matter what, Shadow would win. He always did. Once he took over Mikey's mind, he would set out to destroy Michelangelo's brothers, and anyone else close to him.

Mikey heard the sound of claws dragging on the ground, a low screech. He knew what was approaching him, he knew what would happen to him.

Shadow chuckled as he saw Mikey looking so emotionless, drawn of energy. He picked up Michelangelo's head with one claw, looking directly at him. Mikey quivered looking into his blood red eyes.

"It's only a short amount of time now, Michelangelo." Shadow said. "Your brother Leonardo had tried to rescue you at one point, but failed. There is no hope for you now to win."

"You're wrong, my brothers will save me. They're stronger then you will ever be!" He yelled, fire burning in his eyes with anger.

Shadow dropped Mikey's head. "If they so happen to be, they must be able to fight me then. I won't mind drawing a little more blood." He said with a crooked smile.

As he disappeared, Mikey felt alone once again.

"Guys, please save me." He whispered.

..........

"My sons, this will be a difficult task. I can only be here to guide you. You three are the core thing that will save Michelangelo." Splinter said.

Donnie gulped. "Sensei, can't you help us out with fighting this creature too? What if we're not strong enough for this." He said.

"Donatello, I will guide the three of you. I am unable to connect fully with Michelangelo. Leonardo had full success with communicating with him, which means you and Raphael will as well." He said.

Donnie nodded his head in understanding. He couldn't be a big baby now, his little brother needed him, and he would fight to save him.

The three brothers and their father sat cross legged in the dojo. Splinter faced them, while they sat watching.

"Now, do you have any more questions before we begin?" Splinter asked.

The brothers looked at each other, and shook their heads. They now knew what they must do.

Splinter lit the candles in front of him, and blew out the match. He closed his eyes, and breathed in, as his sons did the same.

"Now, my sons, you must focus on only Michelangelo. Enter his mind, as you will be led there by a bright, warm aura of light." He said.

The brothers did exactly that. With there eyes closed, they focused on only Mikey. Saving Mikey.. Mikey's warm aura... Mikey...

Raph opened his eyes in confusement. He wasn't in the dojo anymore. Where he was instead, was in an area of pitch darkness with only a faint light. This wasn't the bright happy place his Sensei had told them of.

He realized he had his weapons in hand. "Guys, are you here?" He yelled out, searching for his other two brothers.

"Right here, Raph." Leo said.

Donnie looked around and shivered. "This place is so... dark and lifeless." He said.

"That's how it has been for months now." A voice said. The brothers looked around, searching for the source of the voice.

"My sons, it is your mission to restore the light Michelangelo's spirit once held. There is a door in here that unlocks just that, and only you three will be the ones to open it." Splinter said.

The brothers nodded their heads. "Alright, team. First we save Mikey, then we change him back to his old self, no matter what it takes." Leo said.

........

The brothers had entered the door which unlocked to an even darker room. It was frigid, scary, and held a not so welcoming presence in it.

They held up their weapons, all in readying positions in case of a fight. "Y'know, this would be a LOT easier if we weren't in utter darkness." Raph said in annoyance.

"Raph, shush." Leo hissed. "There's something in here that was hurting Mikey before, the Shadow figure. We don't know where it is.." He said, pausing to look around.

It was just silence for a long moment. They only heard the foot steps of each other, and the nervous breaths they all took. "Leo, this stupid 'Shadow' isn't anywhere!" Raph complained.

The silence that once lingered, had then broken. A dark chuckle was heard, that sent chills up all three of the turtle's spines.

"Well, I'm shocked, honestly." It said with a hint of sarcasm. "You three managed to enter Michelangelo's mind, while I have been in control. I applaud you, as it was a difficult task to begin with." Shadow said.

Leo growled. "Show yourself, you disgusting monster! What have you done to our brother?" Leo yelled.

Shadow laughed. "Is that what I am? A monster? I suppose so. But let's not forget, I wasn't in control in the beginning of Michelangelo. That was all on his own. He had hurt you Leonardo... funny how you have forgiven him."

Leo felt his train of thought stop. That thing knew his name... But that didn't matter. What had happened with Leo and Mikey, was nothing to worry about. It wasn't Mikey who hurt Leo, and Leo knew that. It was Shadow, Shadow had made Mikey into this.

"He didn't hurt me, I've been well aware of that. You controlled him to do that." Leo said.

Raph felt anger fire up inside of him. "Where is Mikey?!" He yelled.

Shadow sighed. "So impatient. You really want to know the fate of your brother? Here, this is what has become of him."

Donnie widened his eyes. There was a pool of blood around the area, and then there was.... Mikey. Mikey almost looked lifeless. He was barely breathing at this point, there were deep scratches on him, oozing with red blood. And his eyes were just blank, they didn't show any emotion. Shadow knew the turtles were coming, so he did this to Mikey beforehand to make them angry. Shadow knew what they would try to do, but he would win. Soon, Michelangelo would be dead mentally and physically.

Donnie finally felt angry, how dare this creature harm Mikey, their brother, his brother. "I'll have you rot in hell for this!" He said.

Shadow smirked. "Foolish turtle, I'm already from there."

Raph had reached his boiling point, and launched towards Shadow with fire in his eyes. Shadow only laughed. Raph held up his sai as if to stab the creature, but was stopped midway in the air.

Shadow has levitated Raph up somehow, and now Raph was in pure shock and anger, struggling and kicking to get free. "You're weak compared to me, all of you." Shadow said.

Raph turned blue as he lost breath, and felt himself being choked. Shadow grinned madly as he saw him in pain.

Leo swung his katana into Shadow's left side, causing Shadow only a moment of pain as he dropped Raph. Raph fell to the ground, and went into a coughing fit with there being droplets of blood. Regardless, Raph wiped it off and breathed. He stood up a bit weak, he had to be strong, for Mikey to live.

This time Donnie has also begun fighting Shadow. Shadow was skilled, and swift with movements. If Leo swung to strike at Shadow, Shadow simply stepped to the left.. almost like Mikey during training that one time. And if Donnie tried to hit him from overhead, Shadow would kick him away.

Leo huffed, and looked over at Mikey. He didn't want to, as he felt his heart sunk. His youngest brother.. why did it have to be him.

"Donnie." Leo said. "Go check to make sure Mikey is okay. We don't know if these wounds might actually hurt him physically." He commented.

Donnie, without a second thought, raced over to his younger brother. God... Donnie wanted to say to himself that Mikey was alright, but the genius didn't even know anymore. If it was possible, these wounds looked worst than the previous ones. Slashes, wounds cut open, bruises, and blood everywhere. It was like a massacre.

How was he supposed to help Mikey when his physical presence wasn't there?

Leo slid to the left, and wiped sweat off of his forehead. This creature out up a good fight, and not to mention was nearly impossible to beat. Raph grunted as he did a back flip over Shadow.

Raph threw his sai at Shadow, which missed him merely by an inch. "Why won't you just give up already, you stupid thing!" Raph shouted.

Shadow grew frustrated with this hotheaded turtle. Shadow stretched his arms out, wrapping around Raph as he choked him tighter and tighter. "I always win." He said, before Raph had lost breath and poofed away.

"Raph!" Leo yelled. He hardened his eyes, and leapt forward at the demon. Donnie could only wrap his bandanna around the major wound on Mikey.

He stood up, and for the first time studied the creature. Yes, he was mostly a dark void of nothing, but then there seemed to be something weird in his chest..

A white spot. It was weak point, the way they could defeat him. "Leo!" Donnie called out. "The spot in the middle of his chest, that's where you have to strike at him!" He said.

Leo looked at Donnie, still fighting the creature. "Well I need some help with that, Don!" He responded.

Donnie thought carefully, and clicked opened the blade in his bo-staff. "Leo, distract him." Donnie said.

Donnie ran forward and jumped in the air, slashing Shadow's head, he growled in pain as he fell down. Leo struck him again, but still missed the weak spot.

Shadow stood up and laughed. "Fools you think you can stop me? Your brother has already been sent back, and wounded possibly. There is no victory for you here!" He cackled.

Donnie growled. "Leo, we need a better plan." He said. "Kick him down." Leo simply stated.

Donnie followed the leader's actions, and kicked Shadow down, but Shadow in the process grabbed Donnie and flung him over.

"Good effort, but sad turtle. Now, it will be my time for victory!" Shadow said as he started to rise.

Shadow gasped, as he looked down and felt something stab through him. As he looked behind, Leo had enough time to strike the weak point. "This is what you get for harming my little brother." Leo said, as he pulled the katana out.

Shadow screamed in pain, and poofed as a black cloud gust over the area. He was gone.

Leo panted, and looked at the blackness scattered on the ground. He walked over to Donnie and helped him up.

"He's gone... for good I hope. But help me grab Mikey, we need to find that door." Leo said.

The two brothers had been victorious with defeating Shadow. Now, there was a new task at hand, restoring Michelangelo's lost spirit. But no time could be wasted, for Mikey's life could be lost at any moment.

(Phew, this took a while to write! Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Shadow was defeated, but now they have to save Mikey's spirit, and possibly his life before it's too late. Until the next chapter, bye guys!)

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