Chapter Fourteen: Aftermath
***
Aura turned the Dragon Lord’s crown over in her hands before setting it back into the trunk.
"Your majesty."
She turned to the Rank soldier, who bowed to her.
"Yes."
He moved aside and let Raphael pass. "Hey, babe."
Aura smiled and jumped into his arms. "What are you doing here?"
He stepped back to admire her red gown. "You think I need an excuse to visit the Dragon Queen I love?"
Aura giggled. Someone coughed in the background. "Oh, Raphael, you have to meet my father!"
"Father?" Raphael squeaked.
A tall dragon approached from the shadows, an amused smile on his face. "You must be Raphael. I am Ignatius, I'm glad we could finally meet."
"Uh huh." Raph glared at Aura. You could have warned me, he mouthed.
Aura just smirked. Ignatius looked from Raphael to his daughter. "I’m sure you two have much to discuss." He straightened Aura’s crown. "I’m so proud of you." He kissed her forehead and left the two alone.
Aura took a seat on the throne and Raphael stood in front of her.
"Were you ever going to tell me?" he asked. Aura could see the barely contained anger behind his eyes. She looked off to the side and didn’t answer.
Raphael gritted his teeth. "Damn it, Aura, I thought we were past keeping things from each other. I thought you trusted me. You didn’t even tell me you were pregnant."
Aura leaned forward, resting her hands on her knees. "I’m sorry, Raphael. I thought I could beat him with no trouble. I didn’t think he would know."
"He knew and I didn’t!" Raphael yelled.
Aura covered her face with her hands. "Do you think it was an easy choice for me, Raphael?"
Raphael felt his anger melt away. She must be going through hell. He was so upset that he hadn’t even considered her feelings. He could be such a jerk sometimes.
He wrapped his arms around her as she started to sob. Nothing was said because it was not needed. They both knew.
***
Michaelangelo poured Venus another glass of milk. She hadn’t spoken a word since the fight. Leonardo wasn’t helping at all. He was giving them all the cold shoulder, and had even gone so far as to tell Venus, "I told you so."
Donatello was a little better. He spent less time with his computer and tried his hardest to console his family.
Venus set her glass down. "Mike?"
Mike looked up at her and tried to hold back his surprise that she had spoken. "Yes?"
"Do you think I did the right thing?"
Mike looked back down at his cereal. "Maybe. I don’t think it was wrong."
Venus rested her chin on her hand. "I keep seeing it."
Mike nodded. "You always will, I guess. I was only fifteen when I killed for the first time, but that’s how we were brought up. I still see it."
"You’re not making me feel better."
Mike patted the back of her hand. "I'm sorry, Venus, but if you hadn’t, Raphael and Aura might have been killed. It’s just the life we lead. Death is a part of life and we have to accept it."
Venus blinked in surprise. "You actually listen to Splinter’s lessons!"
Mike winked at her. "Shh, if they know, they’ll expect more from me."
Venus giggled. It was so good to hear her laugh again. Unfortunately, the happiness was short lived.
"I’m blaming you for this, Raph."
Mike put his arm around Venus. "Come on, we’ll sneak out the back way."
"No," Venus said. "This is partly my fault."
"Fine, Leo, blame me if it makes you happy. But do not take it out on Venus."
"Stuff it, Raph."
"Stuff it? What do you think this is Leo, a kid’s TV show? You can use stronger language than that."
"Fuck you!"
"That’s better."
"Your reckless behavior is the reason for this. If you hadn’t dragged her along…"
"It was her choice! Her decision. She had a right to avenge her father’s death. At least I don’t treat her like a child."
Venus stepped into the garage where Leo and Raph were fighting. They didn’t even notice her.
Leo shoved Raph, who shoved back. Soon, blows were flying. Venus backed up into Mike, who put his hands on her shoulders. Splinter and Donatello stood behind Mike and Venus, ready to intervene if need be.
"Don’t blame everyone just 'cause you were a coward."
Leo’s fist hit Raph square in the jaw. He tripped him and Raph hit the ground. Leo punched the wall as he left. Out into the city.
Mike was the first to speak. "He’ll be back." He didn’t sound too sure, but this was Leonardo here. He wouldn’t, couldn’t abandon them like that.
***
Aura heard the ruckus and left her personal quarters to see what all the commotion was about. She came in just in time to see Leonardo flatten one of her soldiers. When he saw her, he stopped and glared at her.
"It’s your fault," he said through gritted teeth.
Aura motioned for the guards to stand down and leave them. Her green silk robe trailed behind her as she approached him.
"The fault is mine," Aura said. "I dragged you all into this." She turned away from him.
She heard Leo pull his sword. Still, she didn’t turn. "You can’t hate me more than I hate myself."
Leo stopped his advance. She turned to see a look of total confusion. She gave a weak grin. "You don’t know."
"What? That you’ve torn our family apart? I see that clearly. All you cared about was defeating the Dragon Lord."
Aura ran her hand over a low shelf. "True. I had to defeat him, regardless of the costs. No matter how high."
Leonardo grew tired of her confusing words. "As if it cost you anything!" he yelled.
"It cost me my child!" Aura yelled back.
Leo dropped his sword. "Dear god…" He remembered back to that night. All that blood couldn’t have come from her knee. It seemed so obvious now.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "What did you lose?"
Leo was at a loss for words. Anything he could name would pale in comparison with her pain. "I had no idea…my god." He paused. "Does Raphael know?"
"Yes," Aura replied harshly. "When I gave the challenge I had hoped… but it’s too late now."
She seemed broken, so pitiful, leaning against that shelf.
Leo picked up his sword. He looked at his reflection in the blade. "The Dragon Lord is to blame," he finally said. "I was wrong. It was his evil that spawned this. Even his death doesn’t give us peace. Please, accept my humblest apologies, Aura."
Aura looked over at him, all malice drained from her face. She just looked tired. "I do, because I know how much pain you and your family must be going through. But this is far from over. Dragon Lord’s death has left a void in the world. Something will have to fill it."
Leo sheathed his sword. "When that time comes, I hope we can get through it better than this round."
"Oh, I hope so." Aura smiled. "But without the pain, we would take happiness for granted." She took his hand. "You have a brave soul, Leonardo, and you have a good heart."
Leo smiled and bowed. "If you’ll excuse me, your highness, I have some more apologizing to do."
Aura returned the bow and waited for him to leave before returning to bed.
***
The end.