Hi, there! I’m excited to be following another Christian artist- your work is awesome! :D
So, I have a question about your Space AU: What happens when the Triceratons take Leo to their leader? How does the confrontation scene play out?
Hope you’re having a nice day ✨
I apologize for the late response. I had every intention of answering your ask, but I wanted to do it properly.
So I wrote a small one-shot of this exact scene for you!
Thank you to @eggbem for helping proof-read, brainstorm, and edit this for me. You have been a huge help in making this!
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Leo counted the beats of his heart. The beats fell in time with the echoing clicks of his armor-clad captors’ footsteps. The sound bounced in the halls from end to end and back to Leo's ears like an oppressive omen.
If he was honest, Leo thought that if he was going to be kidnapped by anyone, these Sci-Fi-esque dinosaurs were the coolest option. Actually, Leo recalled Donnie telling him that the bulky three-horned ones were called Triceratops. He bet that Donnie would probably have an aneurysm trying to figure out how dinosaurs got into space of all places.
‘Cause that’s where Leo was…. In space.
The hall he was being led down opened up to large bay windows on his left side, reminding him of his stifling location. When he first looked out into the inky blackness on the other side of the glass, his stomach had swooped and flipped in the best impression of Mikey’s razzmatazz; the similarities of the view worked their hardest to drag him back to a time he’d rather not think about.
Leo kept his head straight. He had to focus on the more concerning problems than his unchecked PTSD. Well, not completely unchecked. Leo had been having therapy sessions with Dr. Feelings. At least they’d tried. Leo would be the first to admit he was not the most forthcoming with his Trauma.
He must have slowed down, having been stuck in his head too long, as his neck was abruptly tugged by one of the Guards. The clinking of the chains pulled his mind back to the frigid cold of the collar around his throat. From the moment Leo’s captors snapped the collar and manacles on, Leo felt the tugging not just from the connecting chains pulling him away from his brothers, but inward as well. Leo could practically feel the restraints pulling away his Ninpo from within.
They must have some knowledge of mysticism or mystic abilities to have made these restraints, Leo thought. Were there such things as Space Yokai? Were Aliens mystic by nature? Or had these alien dinosaurs done their research before capturing the slider?
Leo was brought out of his thoughts when the two guards stopped in front of a pair of oppressive floor-to-ceiling doors. Two more dinosaurs guarded the doors, holding comically large battle axes.
Are those actually for fighting? Leo fought the urge to gape; the axes had to be decorative as the blades alone looked bigger than Raph’s shell.
He tensed as the guards adjusted the holds on their weapons to push open both doors. With another tug Leo was pulled forward though the entrance.
Leo, when first captured, expected to be brought to some sort of dank cell or thrown into the space brig. To be locked away with no answers. Well, that would not be the case it seemed. It looked like answers would be exactly what he was going to get.
He was brought into what looked to be a grand throne room. Everything was carved out of the same dark and scrap-metal looking stone, lit faintly by what looked like scarcely placed orange LED light strips. Ornate pillars supported high ceilings that dragged the Slider's eyes up and around before coming back down to the surrounding walls. He noticed the walls were decorated with almost Mikey-artistry-level murals stretching the length of the room.
The murals looked to be an artistic telling of a battle of some sort. It depicted many triceratops soldiers marching on to fight an enemy further down the room, the battle becoming more treacherous as they marched on.
Leo almost stopped walking when they passed a pillar revealing the supposed enemy of the story.
It was revealed to be a tall metal creature with sharp claws like an eagle's talons and a long, swinging tail sweeping far-off soldiers in the surrounding field. And within its torso was none other than a Kraang. And without any doubt, Leo knew that it was his Kraang.
Leo's mind raced at the sight of his demon depicted on his captors’ mural. His heart beat double-time and his breath caught in his throat. But before he could completely unravel, he attempted to calm his mind.
Is this possibly a good sign? Leo thought. The triceratops are clearly battling the Kraang in this mural. We share an enemy. An enemy they believe I killed.
Leo looked down at his restraints. Well, they definitely didn't bring me here to honour me for that achievement.
But maybe the Slider could use their shared nemesis to his advantage.
Steeling his resolve, Leo looked towards the raised platform at the end of the room.
Atop a towering throne sat another triceratops.
This one, was dressed rather formally, in contrast to the more rugged utilitarian outfits of the guards escorting Leo. He wore a simple black suit. At the cuffs, the material changed to a purple velvet with gold detailing and embroidery. And below those, his four-fingered hands were dripping in rings and jewels. They looked to be made of metals Leo wasn't sure even Donnie would recognize. Attached to only one shoulder was a cape of the same purple velvet as the cuffs. More chains and charms of gold were draped along the alien’s neck. Studying the triceratops’ face, Leo noticed that there were little to no scars or blemishes on the scaled skin, whereas every other alien Leo had come across had plenty to spare.
Leo was dragged from his musings when he caught the imposing figure in front of him studying Leo with equally inquisitive eyes. Leo kept his expression perfectly blank and his shoulders untensed.
Apparently finished with his observations, the decorated dinosaur cleared his throat in what sounded like an attempt to get the already silent room’s attention.
“This creature is the one responsible for the death of the Kraang?” The regal triceratops boomed.
There was a clear tone of disbelief in his voice that had the sentries on either side of Leo tensing. They glanced at one another before the one to Leo’s right took a hesitant step forward.
“Yes, Emperor Zanra. When my triceraton platoon and I arrived on Terra, there were clear signs of the enemy's presence.” The sentry brought a fist to his mouth to hide a cough.
Leo made a mental note of the dinosaur race’ name. Triceraton. It was very on the nose.
“The continued existence of planet Terra's ecosystem is proof alone that any terraformation by the Kraang on the planet was put to a stop.” The guard finished with a less hidden clearing of the throat.
“And you have proof that it was this underdeveloped reptile that bested one of the Titans?” Zanra sneered, gesturing at Leo. “This Hatchling hardly seems able to stand on its own two legs.”
Ouch. Uncalled for as it was, though, Leo was grateful he remembered to wear his brace today, if only to keep his strained knee from trembling. No need to prove Emperor Zanra’s point, Leo thought.
Another cough jolted the slider out of his offense.
“Yes, your eminence. Shortly after we arrived, we accessed the planet’s data networks. At first we had a difficult time finding any visuals regarding the planet's defender, as if it was removed from the network on purpose. But my team managed to find one image of a Terrapin creature crossing blades with the Kraang. One wielding two swords and with red stripes on its face.”
A shove to his carapace sent Leo forward two steps, and he stumbled slightly to keep his balance.
“This one bears the same resemblance,” The guard finished, his hand swinging in a gesture to Leo.
If Leo was Mikey, he would throw up a peace sign just for shirts and giggles.
Zanra considered this and stared at the Slider. It felt like Zanra was looking right through Leo.
As Zanra took a few steps down from his platform, Leo realised just how big the Triceraton emperor was compared to the Guards at his sides; he was almost double their height. The slider tried to swallow his nervousness down. Raph-sized enemies were one thing, but Zanra was twice that and did NOT look like he hid a teddy bear personality under that gaudy, imposing exterior.
Leo could really use Raph’s backup right now. The idea of going through another Alien situation alone again was not appealing to the slider. But that would defeat the point of this whole plan; as much as Leo didn’t want another trauma-inducing adventure, he definitely didn't want to drag his brothers through one more as well.
So he’d endure this little interrogation, Leo his way back home, and enjoy some pizza with his family like nothing happened. Good plan.
“So how in Titan’s name did you defeat the Kraang little turtle?” Zanra sneered. He leaned down so that he was just above eye-level with Leo. “I am not fool enough to believe that your size is any indication of your skill, and you clearly are not of the dominant race of your planet. So, why should I trust that you defeated such a long-lived and dominating race such as the Kraang?”
Leo recognized that he was not in a great position here. Revealing the truth was not an option, already having told his captors that he was the one to Kill the Kraang. He would just have to hope that his classic Leo charm would be enough to at least get these pointy guards off his flank.
He put on his surest grin.
“Well, I will admit it did leave me with some scars.” Leo lifted his braced knee and wiggled it in a lighthearted show of the injury. “But what battle doesn't end with some bumps and bruises? Better that than letting those pink blobs take over right?”
“Yes. Yes.” Zanra waved his hand as if brushing away Leo’s words. “But how did you kill them? What ability do you possess that could stop one of the titan races?!”
There was a slight edge to the emperor's voice. Strained with an emotion Leo thought could be fear.
“Don’t get your fancy suit in a twist.” Leo said, “I was trained to be a warrior my whole life, so all I did was whip out my Rad ninja skills and stealthed and ninjitsu’d my way to victory. It was rather simple.” He left out that his early years of training had been from Lou Jitsu movies, but he didn’t think that would be of any value to this particular conversation.
Zanra adjusted himself with a scoff, the noble dinosaur ruler having become more and more hunched over as he hounded the slider for answers.
“You think dancing around the question will help you? Maybe a demonstration is in order.” Zanra snapped his fingers, and one of the sentries standing against the wall of the room left through a side exit.
“See, here, we Triceratons are a warrior race. We seek the thrill of battle and conquering our foes. Decimating any and all enemies who challenge us.” Zanra raised his fist in a show of strength, but quickly lowered it.
“But we were never very good at handling moments of peace.”
Eugh boy, I don’t like where this is going, Leo thought.
Zanra continued. “So, to restrain our people from destroying one another, we developed an arena. The Tricereaton Battle Dome!”
Yep! I definitely don’t like this!
“Not only can the people test their mettle and fight to their hearts content, but the audience can have their bloodthirst satiated by watching their fellow Triceraton in battle.”
Right about then the Triceraton guard that had left earlier returned. As he walked back towards Zanra, Leo noticed his twin katanas in the guard’s hands. Leo wasn’t sure from this distance but they looked a little different. Tampered.
“So, Kraang Killer” He started with a menacing grin. Grabbing one of Leo’s swords, he casually held it out to Leo, handle first. “Are you prepared to show the people the strength that killed a Titan?”
How was Leo gonna get out of THIS situation?!
Leo cleared his throat. “Uhh… yeah. One question. Would you happen to be acquainted with Big Mama?”
Zanra paused with a dumbstruck look on his scaled face.
“Why in the world would I know your mother?!”
