| Goliath VS Leonardo | |
|---|---|
| |
| Season | 6 |
| Overall Episode | 76 |
| Season Episode | 11 |
| Air date | September 30th, 2022 |
| Written by | Shadow7615 |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous Obito Uchiha vs. Darth Vader |
Next Dracula vs. Heaven Ascension DIO (Season 6 Finale) |
| “ | Gargoyles VS Ninja Turtles! These brave team leaders must now fight for themselves in this battle of New York's watchful guardians. | „ |
Goliath vs. Leonardo is the 76th episode of DEATH BATTLE! by Shadow7615, featuring Goliath from the Gargoyles series and Leonardo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series in a battle between New York City's team-leading protectors.
Interlude[]
Wiz: Leadership requires a combination of skills, experience, and knowing when to make the right decisions. It's not an easy role for one to take on.
Boomstick: But the payoff is totally worth it, especially if you end up like these two.
Wiz: Goliath, leader of the Manhattan Clan.
Boomstick: And Leonardo, leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He's Wiz and I'm Boomstick!
Wiz: And it's our job to analyze their weapons, armor, and skills to find out who would win... a Death Battle.
Goliath[]
Wiz: One thousand years ago, superstition and the sword ruled. It was a time of darkness. It was a world of fear. It was the age of gargoyles.
Boomstick: Seriously love that theme song. Stone by day. Warriors by night. A group of gargoyles joined forces with the humans of a Scottish castle. They would protect each other during their most vulnerable hours. The Wyvern Clan was led by Goliath, whose voice might as well be its own superpower. Anyway, while their alliance with the humans lasted for many decades, things eventually went awry.
Wiz: They faced unjustified prejudice from the humans they swore to protect. And one day, the Wyvern Clan was massacred. Those who did survive, including Goliath, were magically sealed in stone forever, or until one incredibly specific condition was met, when the castle "rose above the clouds". A very literal condition at that.
Boomstick: Good news is that, 1,000 years later, this Star Trek-looking dude named David Xanatos, a billionaire with some deep pockets, moved every last stone of that castle to the top of his New York City skyscraper. That night, the spell was broken, and they lived again! Now they had to adjust to the modern world. This small group of gargoyles became known as the Manhattan Clan.
Wiz: Although 1,000 years had passed, Goliath was as skilled as ever, allowing him to easily navigate the city. This brings us to the elephant in the room, his ability to glide. Despite Goliath's claim that he can’t fly, gargoyles have been shown to glide anywhere easily, only requiring air currents to do so. Goliath simply cannot take off from the ground, so he'll start from an elevated platform.
Boomstick: No problem for Goliath, since he can effortlessly scale towers, using his sheer strength to climb up, even while carrying someone on his back. Goliath can break through just about any sturdy material that gets in his way, slicing through stone with his bare hands, ripping metal and steel to shreds, and even one-punching solid ice that froze the surface of a lake.
Wiz: Even a hydraulic press isn't tough enough to withstand Goliath's sheer physical strength. Naturally, Goliath is also very durable. He's withstood grenades exploding on him, getting hit by the shockwaves of fiery explosions. And being shot by all kinds of weaponry. From anti-aircraft rounds to laser gun blasts. He even got shot by a World War II-era German aircraft, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, which managed to puncture a hole through one of his wings.
Boomstick: Oh yeah, Goliath travelled through time, we forgot to mention that. Anyway, that physical strength extends to his ability to withstand the blunt force attacks of others, getting thrown into buildings, vehicles, solid walls and pillars. Goliath also managed to survive falling to the ground after he got shot out of the sky. Goliath is built from some tough stuff, so overwhelming him physically is a tall order.
Wiz: If you can catch him. Although he cannot take off from the ground, once Goliath gets airborne, it's not easy to keep up with him. He can "glide" at speeds fast enough to avoid laser fire. He's also fast enough to outpace that World War II German aircraft, even after he got shot, and he can keep pace with the New York subway. When he's not "gliding", Goliath can easily avoid laser blasts while on foot. Even when he was transformed into a human he could avoid laser blasts.
Boomstick: Even if you fell from a skyscraper, Goliath is fast enough to catch you well before you'd even hit the ground. Goliath would also be as fast as his fellow Manhattan Clan gargoyles, like Hudson, who uses his sword to deflect those same laser blasts which would make him capable of Massively Hypersonic speeds. But keep in mind these aren't real laser beams since they don't bounce off reflective surfaces, like Hudson's sword.
Wiz: Goliath has faced many challenges and adversaries. He led the Manhattan Clan in battle against David Xanatos and the Steel Clan, a group of robots modelled after Goliath himself, who became more advanced opponents. Their continued battle eventually resulted in the creation of Thailog, Goliath's clone, and one of his fiercest enemies. Though perhaps his greatest struggle was having to confront his former lover, Demona, and her new outlook on life.
Boomstick: Honestly, with a name like "Demona" you'd think Goliath would've figured out something was gonna go wrong. And what do you know, Demona not only survived the Wyvern Clan Massacre, she tricked Goliath into thinking she was dead, and she was convinced humanity needed to be wiped out, and she was the one who orchestrated the events that led Xanatos to break the 1,000 year stone sleep.
Wiz: Despite Goliath's attempts to convince her otherwise, he had no choice but to stand against her. And through the actions of one Elisa Maza, Goliath's faith in humanity wasn't shaken like Demona's was, leading him down a path where he'll do anything to protect humanity, no matter the cost. During the Avalon World Tour, Goliath was faced with Elisa's abduction and had no choice but to utilise the Eye of Odin, one of the Three Keys to Power.
Boomstick: He became the avatar of Odin, like how Moon Knight is the avatar of Khonshu. Goliath had been keeping the Eye of Odin and the other Keys to Power in his custody, so he didn't hesitate to use that power, even against the man himself. That's right. He fought goddamn Odin. The Eye of Odin granted Goliath impressive new powers. He no longer turned to stone during the day, and he could finally fly properly, able to take off from the ground.
Wiz: The Eye of Odin also granted Goliath elemental powers. He can shoot lightning bolts, call upon powerful blizzards and open up fissures. He also possesses magical power, able to conjure a magical spear and absorb Odin's powers. He can easily dodge Odin's lightning bolts and withstand getting hit by them. All that power let him successfully defeat Odin, and also the Archmage, whose magic can freeze the surface of a lake.
Boomstick: Only one problem, the Eye of Odin also causes Goliath to start losing control of himself, it was starting to take over him. Thankfully, Angela, Goliath's daughter, helped Goliath come back to his senses, and he was able to remove the Eye of Odin. And this is primarily one of Goliath's most notable shortcomings. While he is very noble and committed to those he trusts, he can go a bit overboard.
Wiz: Although he's level-headed, he has a short temper. He can be easily provoked if someone he values is in danger. And of course, gargoyles are only active for 12 hours a day, and during the other 12 hours, they are helpless stone statues. They turn to stone regardless of circumstance or location. Broadway, a fellow Manhattan Clan gargoyle, nearly died when he was turned to stone midflight, and his stone body plummeted to the ground, he only survived thanks to Elisa's intervention.
Boomstick: Though Goliath is pretty chill. He likes to hang out in the library reading up a storm. While he might look like a scary motherfucker, he's pretty intelligent and has used his time and experience as a leader to counter his usual gargoyle instincts. He picked up the good stuff and learned from the classics like Shakespeare. It gave him that perspective he needed, and thanks to Elisa, he was able to see humanity as something worth protecting.
Wiz: And in time, Goliath and Elisa decided to join together, their mutual love for each other would slowly start the long path toward gargoyles and humans living together in peaceful co-existence.
Boomstick: Just don't get in the way of that peace, or else you'll be dealing with one powerful gargoyle!
Goliath: This island, Manhattan, this is our 'castle'. From this day forward, we protect all who live here, human and gargoyle alike.
Leonardo[]
Boomstick: Few comic book origins get weirder than this one. One day a group of four turtle brothers were accidentally exposed to a mysterious ooze that transformed them into mutant turtles. On top of that, a mutant rat that also got hit by that same ooze became the turtles' mentor and raised the four of 'em as if they were his sons.
Wiz: Master Splinter was a skilled martial artist and master of ninjutsu, so he trained these mutant turtles as ninjas. And as these mutant ninja turtle brothers grew up and forged their distinct identities, Splinter named them after famous Renaissance artists. Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, and the eldest brother, Leonardo. These four brothers would become known as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Boomstick: They called the New York City Sewer System their home, and once they learned of the crimes happening above their very heads, they formed an effective crime-fighting team. Though they weren't exactly considered such by the humans they would protect. But don't worry, things got better. Thanks in no small part to Leo's strong sense of honor and noble outlook.
Wiz: Before we continue, it's essential to establish how we're assessing Leonardo. As the TMNT have appeared in several comics, animated tv shows and films, there hasn't been a definitively established iteration of them that we can focus on as the main version. For this analysis, Leonardo will be assessed with powers, abilities and skills that are consistent and viable across his multiple iterations.
Boomstick: So you know the drill, we'll be focusing on the stuff Leo knows best. Also, he'll be sticking to his usual equipment. Now that we've got that sorted, let's get on with it. As Master Splinter's most devoted student, Leo learned the ins and outs of Ninjutsu. Which isn't an exact fighting style or martial art, but rather, tactics and stuff.
Wiz: Leonardo took these studies to heart, and learned all eighteen disciplines, which range from unarmed combat, using the most effective weaponry, espionage, strategy, tactics and utilizing his environment. Compared to his brothers, Leonardo frequently uses these techniques in combat. Additionally, Leonardo swore himself to the principles of Bushido, compassion, courage, duty, honesty, honor, respect, righteousness, and self-control.
Boomstick: Being a good guy is his mode of operation. But you gotta watch out because Leonardo is as nice as he is good at fighting. Leo might as well be part ninja, part samurai, since he fights using Niten Ichi-ryū, a fighting style using two katanas. But his swords are Ninjaken, which are the same thing as katanas, except they don't have the curve.
Wiz: Though Leonardo is more than a simple swordsman, and carries many other weapons, namely Kunai, Shurikens, Smoke Bombs, Climbing Claws, Grappling Hooks, Yumi Bows, and other blades like Kogatanas, and Mini Tanto Blades. Leonardo is also usually the ninja turtle who gets a powerful weapon, such as the Gunshin. As one of the Four Fangs of the Dragon, this sword was originally wielded by fellow ninja Faraji Ngala, who bequeathed the weapon to Leonardo before his death.
Boomstick: The Four Fangs of the Dragon all came from the Spirit Forge, so they should all be comparable to each other in terms of power. Raph's Banrai was stated to be able to shatter mountains with its thunder, so Leo's Gunshin would have similar power, though the Gunshin can unleash massive blue flames, which can evaporate an entire lake. And all of these weapons were given to the Ninja Turtles during their time with the Ninja Tribunal.
Wiz: Leonardo typically takes his ninja training much further than his brothers. Most iterations of Leonardo learn to utilize spiritual/lifeforce energy and apply it in varying ways. The Healing Hands mantra grants Leonardo the ability to heal himself, as well as others, ranging from healing injuries and wounds in battle, or curing the body of ailments like poison. It's even removed the effects of mind control on others.
Boomstick: Leo also learned to tap into the Hamato Clan's mystic Ninpo life force energy, letting Leo form his iconic katanas from practically anything, and can use his katanas as teleportation devices, holding onto one will teleport you to the other. But most impressively, Leo can channel his inner spirit and transform into a goddamn Dragon!
Wiz: You may think Leonardo's Dragon transformation is way out of the ordinary, and while that is true to an extent, Leonardo achieves it the same way he achieves his Healing Hands and Hamato Ninpo, training in spiritual and life force techniques and knowledge from his teachers and instructors. Since it's not acquired from an external source or situational plot convenience, there's no reason this should be treated differently.
Boomstick: Leo has proven time and time again he's one of the best Ninja Turtles. He's battled and defeated many powerful opponents, like Karai, Ue-sama, the Ultimate Ninja, Tiger Claw, heck, he's even defeated Ra's al Ghul himself. Though Leonardo's greatest victory, or victories, since he accomplishes it in multiple iterations, is that he's usually the Ninja Turtle to defeat their greatest enemy, The Shredder!
Wiz: He's also quite strong. He once pried open the jaws of a T-Rex, which has been theorized to have a bite of 128,000 pounds per square inch, what's more, this particular T-Rex was a larger, mutated T-Rex created by Baxter Stockman, so it's likely stronger than that. Leonardo also restrained Kraang Prime with a chain. Additionally, Leonardo is skilled in Pressure Point Combat, which can easily subdue his foes, even other creatures, like alligators.
Boomstick: If you thought turtles were slow, just look at Leo dodging laser blasts! And if that's not impressive enough, he can react to lasers being shot at him, and use his swords to deflect them back to sender. To do that, Leo would have needed to move at almost 80% the speed of light. Since the laser reflects off his swords, and also can deflect off of mirrors, that supports it being a proper laser.
Wiz: Though if there's one part of being a turtle that still holds up, it's his shell. One of his greatest assets, not only is it incredibly sturdy, but he can withstand all kinds of impacts and collisions. Getting thrown through walls, crushed underneath a building, and surviving explosions designed to destroy buildings. The Turtles also tanked one of the Shredder's best weapons, the Sword of Tengu, which can destroy traditional Japanese houses and blow up an entire skyscraper floor, both with a single energy blast.
Boomstick: So yeah, Leo is an absolute beast! ...or reptile. Though being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle isn't exactly a walk in the park, Leo doubts himself, and his abilities, a lot of the time. He takes his expectations as the leader of the team pretty seriously, and if things go wrong, Leo takes that L personally. Completely throwing Leo off balance in a fight, usually not a problem when Leo's fighting with his bros.
Wiz: Being a teenager, of course, Leonardo will go through these emotional hurdles. But he doesn't give up, nor does he abandon his principles. Though Leonardo isn't as intelligent as Dontalleo, tough as Raphael, or as unpredictable as Michelangelo, Leonardo's strength comes from his ability to strengthen others, especially his brothers.
Boomstick: And that's gotten him pretty far, all things considered. Across the many versions of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it's impossible to deny that Leo is a badass and gets the job done, while never straying from the honorable path.
Wiz: The path may not always be an easy one, but Leonardo will see it through, no matter what.
Leonardo: There are times in your life when you draw on everything you have. Times when you reach down into the deepest part of yourself. When you know you've got to give it your all, because anything less won't get the job done. It's in times like these that you find out who you really are.
DEATH BATTLE![]
The world as we know it is ruled by superstition, controlled by fear. This was reality for those who relented to its clutches. But not all were so easily swayed by these dominant influences. However, they weren't nearly powerful enough to halt these fearsome forces from deciding the way people perceived events, people, and things far beyond their understanding. But the hope that these notions would be dispersed one day persisted in the hearts of many, longing for a better world.
New York City, the city that never sleeps. The sun fell behind the skyscrapers that seemed to pierce the sky itself. The orange blanket of sunset painted the entire city as the evening mood set in. Hours passed and the orange sunlight faded into the pitch-black skies illuminated by the stars of the night sky. Atop one of the highest skyscrapers in New York City stood a centuries-old castle. This domain was home to several statues depicting the fictitious beings of myth known as gargoyles.
However, there was some truth to those legends. As New York City settled into night, the statues began to crack, until they finally shattered, revealing that gargoyles were, in fact, real. A group of them awoke one by one until an ensemble gathered together. This group was known simply as the Manhattan Clan, befitting their home. The gargoyles gathered around their leader, Goliath, as he began speaking. "Our home never quite ceases to amaze, even after seeing this view countless times" Goliath admired as he gazed upon the view of New York City at night.
Another gargoyle, Brooklyn, took the opportunity to jump into the conversation. "That is, if you have the time to stop and admire it. Ain't that right, Hudson?". Brooklyn saw that the clan's advisor, Hudson, had already taken to the television to pass the time. In response, another member of the clan, Lexington, chimed in. "Well, better to find something to do than nothing at all" as he chose to occupy himself with some technological devices he kept in the castle.
"I take it you two are going to spend time with Hudson?" Goliath asked the remaining gargoyles, Broadway and Bronx. "Yeah, I'm gonna see if Hudson has more detective movies" Broadway elaborated. Bronx, who doesn't speak, simply followed Broadway. Seeing that his clan brethren were all content just as he was, Goliath leapt into the air and glided across New York City, headed for the clock tower that the gargoyles also called home.
As Goliath approached, he noticed someone was inside. Believing it to be one of his allies, Goliath continued his approach. But upon his arrival, he noticed strangely dressed individuals had entered the clock tower and had raided it, searching for something. Immediately, Goliath knew what they were looking for, which invoked his anger. Deeming these invaders his enemies, Goliath attacked, which alerted the intruders, who all immediately sought to flee the clock tower, albeit some of them stayed to fight Goliath.
Effortlessly, these intruders were bested by Goliath, who immediately demanded answers "Why are you after the keys?". But before his fallen foe could answer, a ranged attack struck Goliath, which allowed his foes to flee. Instinctively, Goliath gave chase and pursued his enemies across New York City, however, as minutes turned to hours, he was unable to locate them. Which put Goliath on high alert as he returned to the castle.
The following day, rumblings spread across New York City, which ultimately made their way to the news reporters. In the evening news bulletin, the rumors of a winged creature traversing New York City at night seemed superfluous, but they did not fall on completely deaf ears. In the depths of the New York City Sewer System was a secret home for a group of adolescent, genetically altered shinobi terrapins, one of them, Michelangelo, was watching television, and had gotten quite bored of the news.
But before he changed the channel, he listened to a rumor that had recently surfaced. Although Michelangelo himself was not invested in the rumor, it did garner the attention of everyone else. It most certainly garnered the attention of Raphael, who acknowledged the rumor and believed it would be another opportunity to defeat another bad guy. "Sounds like a problem for me to fix". Raphael remarked. But his comment earned the rebuttal of their mentor, Master Splinter. "My son, not every obstacle we face is a battle you must fight. A ninja does not fight for glory, but honor".
"Then how do we deal with this? I don't think anyone wants this to continue" Raphael continued. His brother, Donatello, joined the conversation. "Well, it happened at night, right? We could take a look at it tonight so we can get a clearer understanding of what's going on" Donatello's observation was agreed upon unanimously. The eldest brother of the four, Leonardo, finally spoke up, having listened to everyone else beforehand. "This is a situation that needs to be approached carefully, we can't go into this without thinking it through. We don't know what might happen otherwise" Leonardo cautioned.
"My son, to ensure that we can understand these creatures and their situation, it is best that you proceed alone. If all of us go, it might not send the right message. We are not looking to make enemies" Master Splinter instructed. "Yes, Master Splinter" Leonardo responded. "If they give you any trouble Leo, we'll help you pummel them into the ground" Raphael remarked with enthusiasm. "Nightfall shall come soon, prepare yourself accordingly, my son" Master Splinter continued.
Several hours later, the sunset gave rise to the night. Emerging from his sewer home, Leonardo leapt and crawled through the New York cityscape, keeping a watchful eye on the streets and rooftops for any sign of trouble. Perching himself on a rooftop corner, Leonardo gazed out over the expansive city, illuminated by the lights that welcomed many. It wasn't long before he heard rumblings, thusly Leonardo sprung into action, careful not to give away his location as he followed the trail, unsure of what lay ahead, but prepared for what may come.
Without warning, Leonardo recognized the shadowy figures of the Foot Clan's ninjas leaping from one building to another. Although he couldn't make sense of their situation, things became clearer when he saw a winged creature enter his line of sight. The creature in question was, of course, Goliath, he relentlessly glided after the ninjas, and in a moment of great speed, landed a strike on one of them, which sent the two through a window. Seeing the situation was critical and could escalate quickly, Leonardo moved as quickly as possible to make sense of what was happening.
As he neared the building, he noticed additional Foot Clan ninjas approaching the building and entering from other windows. Preparing himself for the fight, Leonardo noticed one of the already broken windows. Deciding that was his way in, Leonardo sprinted across the rooftop he was in and lept into the air and swiftly landed on the ground. His presence was immediately detected by the Foot Clan ninjas, who turned their attention to Leonardo. Drawing both of his ninjaken, Leonardo gestured the ninjas to come and fight him, which they immediately abided.
Effortlessly dispatching the ninjas with little trouble, he soon noticed that the majority of them had abandoned fighting Leonardo, and instead focused their efforts on the nearby Goliath, which Leonardo could now see clear as day. As he battles the ninjas, Leonardo noticed that the ninjas were holding onto some kind of item, which Goliath aggressively fought to reclaim. But before long, the sheer quantity of the Foot Ninjas overwhelmed Goliath, rendering him unable to retrieve the item. As Goliath became enraged, he effortlessly tossed all the ninjas aside.
Observing these interactions, Leonardo watched as the Foot Ninjas acknowledged both him and Goliath, with looks of great fear on their faces. They all looked at each other before fleeing the building, leaping out of the broken windows and through any doors they could find. Both Leonardo and Goliath gave chase, but before long, the Foot Ninja had completely escaped. At that moment, the two turned to one another, seeing the other had remained.
"You... are not human" Goliath observed, noticing that Leonardo was indeed not a human. "Right, but before we get too caught up in conversation. I need to know who you are and what all this commotion is about" Leonardo asked of Goliath. Unfortunately, his response was not well received. "There is no time. I must continue my pursuit of these attackers" Goliath dismissed Leonardo's inquiry, as he looked out the window to see the faint shadows of the Foot Clan ninjas disappearing into the night. "Stop. If you continue with reckless abandon, someone could get hurt" Leonardo firmly established his concerns toward Goliath.
Unfortunately, Goliath had become consumed by the need to reclaim what he had lost, and once again, ignored Leonardo's pleas. "Do not interfere, I will take them myself. Leave this place!" Goliath demanded. Unfortunately, Leonardo was not going to comply. "If you will not listen, then you leave me no choice" Leonardo solemnly uttered as he drew his ninjaken once again, and entered his fighting stance. With his wrath tempered, Goliath focused on Leonardo, recognizing him as a foe.
FIGHT!
(Cue Hallway Fight - John Paesano)
As the clash begins, Goliath charged forward, jolting across the room toward his reptilian adversary. Each footstep became increasingly louder until he was within inches of Leonardo. But, the noble turtle did not strike, instead, Goliath swiped at Leonardo with his powerful claws. But their aim was not true, as Leonardo swiftly evaded the gargoyle's strike. Using his moment of evasion, Leonardo delivered a slashing strike of his own, swinging the ninjaken in his right hand, which landed a hit on Goliath's left arm. However, the sword seemed to scrape against Goliath's skin, leaving the gargoyle relatively unfazed by the sword strike.
Immediately eyeing an opportunity to strike back, Goliath clenched his fist and punched Leonardo firmly in his torso. The sheer might of the attack knocked Leonardo back, moments later colliding with the wall. His shell tanked the impact but left noticeable cracks in the wall's foundation. Although dazed for just the slightest moment, Leonardo quickly regained composure. But as he looked at Goliath, the gargoyle did not press his attack. Instead, Goliath begrudgingly looked at Leonardo before leaving the room. As Leonardo mustered the energy, he gave chase.
Out on the New York City rooftops, Goliath ascended to such, and gazed over the cityscape, attempting to locate his enemies. Despite his best efforts, Goliath was unable to see them from this altitude. He turned and saw a taller building, which he decided to ascend to get a better perspective of his surroundings.
Before he could move, however, he felt several sharp objects strike his wings, though they did not inflict significant damage, they nonetheless grabbed Goliath's attention. As he correctly suspected, Leonardo had pursued him here, holding several shurikens in his hand. Goliath, again directing his ire at Leonardo, resumed their conflict verbally. "Why do you insist on stopping me? You must realize the danger this presents" Goliath protested. Acknowledging that Goliath had a good point, Leonardo lowered his tense stance. "You are right. But you are as much a danger to these people as them. Surely you must understand this?" Leonardo iterated.
"The humans have made their decision, for both of us, it seems..." Goliath continued. Melancholy ran down Goliath's face, as the mighty gargoyle briefly bore the emotional core of his being. But those feelings soon retreated as Goliath's persistence kicked back in. "I respect you for your devotion and commitment... uhh..." Goliath commended but lingered too long trying to correctly address his foe. "Leonardo." he jumped in. A momentary surprise lit up Goliath's face. "Leonardo... that name sounds familiar to me. I am Goliath" the gargoyle formally exchanged his name in kind.
"I understand where you are coming from, Goliath. Danger has been right above my head since I was young. But there are better ways to pursue your enemies." Leonardo explained, but the response did not seem to deter Goliath. "You do not intend on relenting, do you?" Goliath asked of Leonardo, wishing to make certain of his foe's intentions. "I must act, I cannot stand by idly and watch as this unfolds. I dread to think where it could lead." Leonardo responded, further cementing his stance on the unfolding situation.
Acknowledging his foe as someone with sincere motivations, but a will of iron, Goliath saw a worthy opponent. "You have the strength of a warrior, but the heart of a human." Goliath praised his honorable foe. "But... I will use every last ounce of strength to stop you. Do you understand?" Goliath warned as he stalwartly fortified himself. "I understand." Leonardo affirmed as he drew his ninjaken once again, and entered a fighting stance. Goliath assumed his once again. The two, almost within an instant, resumed their battle.
Having solidified his intent to fight, Goliath charged toward the Ninja Turtle, his claws prepared to strike. Leonardo waved his ninjaken blades, clashing with the claw. Though Leonardo was quick to respond, having successfully gained the opportunity, Leonardo swept his feet across the ground, knocking Goliath off balance. Creating his openings, Leonardo took a chance to strike Goliath on his side, where Leonardo deduced he was most vulnerable.
Though as Leonardo's blades struck against Goliath's body, again they seemed to scrape and soon lose their momentum. At this moment, Leonardo concluded that Goliath's skin was especially durable, and it would take striking at more vulnerable parts of the body to strike true. Having seen Leonardo fail to inflict damage, Goliath was quick to exchange attacks. Clenching one of his fists, Goliath punched Leonardo, which left the Ninja Turtle briefly incapable of following up on his attack.
Seizing the chance, Goliath grabbed Leonardo by the head and began to walk to the side of the rooftop. Leonardo, recognizing what was happening, made a quick maneuver. Swinging his body, Leonardo wrapped his legs around Goliath's arm, making him unable to bend his elbow. Thusly, he released his hold on Leonardo's head. Leonardo dropped his blades to the ground, and, with his free open hands, grabbed onto the corner of the rooftop. Mustering the strength he could, Leonardo slammed Goliath to the ground.
The gargoyle felt that blow but was nonetheless prepared to resume fighting, though as Goliath rose to his feet, he looked to his right and saw Leonardo's ninjaken blade near his neck. But before Leonardo could follow up on this, Goliath grabbed the blade with his bare hands and moved it out of the way so Goliath could again strike his foe. Successfully landing the strike, Goliath quickly surmised it would be wise to avoid staying in one position too long.
Having lost one of his swords to Goliath, Leonardo nevertheless continued the fight. Sheathing his remaining sword, Leonardo was not afraid to continue the fight with his fists. But, having identified Goliath's formidable strength as one he could match, but simply outmaneuver, Leonardo knew how he was to proceed.
Goliath charged at Leonardo yet again. But before he could close the distance, smoke suddenly erupted from below him and Leonardo, completely enveloping Goliath's view. Goliath coughed for a short time as he attempted to get himself away from the smoke. But as he thought of his escape, he started to flap his wings, which dispersed the smoke promptly. With his vision restored, everything seemed the same, except Goliath, was alone now. He looked at his surroundings, noticing that Leonardo had retrieved his second blade.
"You cannot hide from me" Goliath argued, as he scanned his surroundings in search of Leonardo. Listening very carefully, Goliath waited to hear a sound that would indicate Leonardo's position. In a moment, he heard the sound of scrapping against metal. Immediately, Goliath turned his head but did not see anymore. Goliath nonetheless approached, where he saw a pair of cut marks on a metal pipe. He recognized the sharp objects as the same ones Leonardo threw at him earlier, deducing it was him.
Though unsure of where his opponent resided, Goliath remained on guard. Waiting for any indication of movement. A few moments passed and the sound of something rolling on the ground attracted the gargoyle's attention. He turned and saw a much larger object than a shuriken, it was a kunai. But just as Goliath inspected the kunai, he noticed smoke bombs had been attached to them. Realizing this too late, the smoke bombs exploded, ensnaring Goliath's vision with a thick haze.
Coughing from more direct exposure to the smoke bomb, Goliath desperately attempted to wart off the effects of the smoke bomb. Immediately, Goliath guarded himself, anticipating that Leonardo would strike when he couldn't see it coming. And he was correct, but not merely accurate enough. Emerging to attack Goliath from behind, Leonardo swung his two ninjaken blades, this time making an effective blow on the gargoyle's back, though as with his previous strikes, it did not pierce his skin.
Nevertheless, Leonardo resumed his offensive, striking with his blades and swiftly following up with a powerful lunging kick to Goliath's back, which successfully knocked Goliath to the ground, just in time for the smoke bomb's residual effects to disperse. Turning himself around, Goliath looked to see Leonardo again pointing the tip of his blade at Goliath's face. Though Goliath was not afraid, he simply found himself an opportunity.
Though unable to fly naturally, Goliath flapped his wings aggressively, using the gusts of wind generated by his wings to stagger Leonardo, giving Goliath the chance he needed to regain control of the situation. Propping himself back onto his feet, Goliath went for a strike against Leonardo, and it successfully landed, further disorienting Leonardo. Though instead of continuing his attack, Goliath saw a rooftop with a higher elevation just a short distance away from where he was currently.
(Cue Chaos Last Battle - Your Favorite Enemies)
Abandoning his current location, Goliath sprinted across the rooftop before leaping off the side and using his wings to glide along the wind. Leonardo recovered from the attacks just in time to witness Goliath's takeoff. Rather than immediately pursue Goliath, Leonardo observed Goliath's flight, seeing that he was headed for that much taller building. Unable to glide vertically upward, Goliath simply glided forward until he made contact with the wall. Digging his claws into the brick and concrete, Goliath began climbing.
Ascending the building slowly, Goliath knew he would have the best view of the city from the summit of this building. As he continued to climb, he heard a distinct noise, and as he turned his head to gaze below, he saw a grappling hook pass him and reach the top of the building. Goliath looked to where the grappling hook had come from, noticing Leonardo at the end of it. Leonardo then jumped from the building he was situated on and began to climb his rope.
Seeing the rope was just meters from his reach, Goliath immediately changed course, navigating the building sideways. In just a few moments, Goliath reached the rope. Grabbing the rope, Goliath ripped it from the grappling hook at the top, thus sending Leonardo into a freefall. With the rope severed, Goliath resumed his vertical ascend to the top of the building. Within a minute, Goliath successfully made it to the rooftop, his progression no longer hindered. Goliath took his chance to observe the city for any sign of his assailants.
Without warning, he heard someone behind him. Goliath turned around to see that it was Leonardo, who had somehow ascended the building as well. "How... how is this possible?" Goliath uttered in sheer bewilderment. "It's simple. I'm a ninja turtle. It will take more than underhanded methods to stop me, Goliath" Leonardo's assertion irritated Goliath, who simply dismissed Leonardo's words and resumed the fight.
Provoked by his anger, Goliath charged at Leonardo yet again, and, as though they were re-enacting a rehearsed dance, Leonardo swiftly evaded Goliath's strikes before leaping into the air and performing a somersault, using his descending momentum to deliver a strike at Goliath's chest, successfully staggering the gargoyle. However, this merely added more fuel to the fire burning Goliath's rage.
Again, Goliath charged, but instead of striking with reckless abandon, Goliath grabbed onto Leonardo by his arms, restricting the ninja turtle's movements. Though struggling to make a move, Leonardo quickly hatched a plan. Releasing his hold of the ninjaken, Leonardo quickly grabbed one of them with his foot once they reached the ground. Immediately, Goliath released Leonardo, refusing to allow a strike at his feet.
Moving quickly, Leonardo rearmed himself and went to strike Goliath, and this time, Goliath allowed the blades to approach him. Without hesitation, Leonardo's blade struck and pierced the skin on Goliath's hands. Leonardo looked and saw the crimson blood escape the gap between his blade and Goliath's hand. He checked the other and noticed the same had been achieved. Although he drew first blood, Leonardo was astonished and glanced at Goliath in concern.
The gargoyle's eyes turned pure white, and, instead of freeing his hands, Goliath tightened his grip on the swords, and with tremendous strength, broke off both blades. Leonardo, having tried to free his swords from Goliath just moments prior, finally got the chance to recall his weapons, only to glance at them, seeing how drastically short they had become, and bloodied at the sharp tips. But before he could resume the fight, Goliath struck Leonardo without warning, and with much greater fury behind it this time.
His momentum failed to halt before the end of the rooftop, and Leonardo fell off. Though just before he could plunge to certain death, Leonardo stabbed his shortened sword into the side of the building, halting his fall. With his swords now reduced in their effectiveness, Leonardo closed his eyes and concentrated. Meanwhile, Goliath, still atop the building, approached where Leonardo had fallen off. Wanting to confirm his victory over the ninja turtle.
Peering over the edge, Goliath did not locate Leonardo, only to be struck from directly below him. Leonardo ascended up and over Goliath, landing on the rooftop once again. Along the way, struck Goliath on the chest and neck, affecting the pressure points in Goliath's body, causing the gargoyle to tense up and remain stationary and Leonardo landed. The gargoyle was determined to resume the fight but glanced at Leonardo to see some things had changed.
Now donning an amulet necklace, Leonardo brandished a new sword, the Gunshin. Which responded to Leonardo and seemed ready to activate a moment's notice. "You are not so easily bested" Goliath commented on Leonardo's survivability throughout their encounter. Though acknowledging the response, Leonardo did not appear to want to do so. Instead, he concentrated further. Goliath, seeing this as a declaration of Leonardo's intent to resume fighting without banter, approached Leonardo. Though this time, the ninja turtle conducted himself more effectively than before.
As Goliath approached, Leonardo performed a backflip, and, in the middle of his flip, slashed at Goliath's back, which successfully struck Goliath and staggered him. Goliath instinctively reached his arm to his back to feel for pain. And to his shock, the Gunshin's blade had successfully inflicted far greater damage than Leonardo's ninjaken. The anger returned, thusly Goliath's eyes turned pure white yet again. Goliath again charged at Leonardo, but this time, Leonardo did not move to anticipate his attack.
With his eyes closed, Leonardo concentrated as the amulet necklace began to illuminate a strong light, at that moment, blue markings glowed and appeared on Leonardo's body. Having tapped into the latent potential of his mystic power, Leonardo waved Gunshin at Goliath, using its power to conjure blue flames, launching them directly at Goliath. Immediately, Goliath used his wings to shield him from the flames. Though his body could withstand the heat, he did not wish to prolong the attack against him.
With stubbornness guiding his way forward, Goliath charged at Leonardo, and collided with him, knocking Gunshin out of his hands and onto the ground. Goliath moved to strike Leonardo while he was vulnerable. But Leonardo suddenly countered, using his martial arts prowess to render Goliath's attacks harmless. Leonardo quickly followed up with a series of sudden strikes across Goliath's torso, triggering his body's pressure points.
Tensing out, Goliath relented and partially dropped to the ground, urging his body to go on. He glanced over at Leonardo to see he was retrieving the Gunshin. Having picked up the blade once more, Leonardo aimed it at Goliath and prepared it. But as Goliath's muscles slowly began to ease, he realized he could fail to escape this predicament. Goliath shuddered to think what would happen next, but he knew it may be his only solution.
Wishing to honor Goliath's actions, Leonardo stopped to see what the gargoyle would do. Goliath reached into the satchel on his person and retrieved a golden-brimmed necklace, with a blue sphere for a jewel in its center. The blue sphere suddenly began to glow with a powerful light. An instant later, Goliath was enveloped in an aura of blinding light. Leonardo withdrew his attack and put some distance between himself and Goliath. Observing Goliath from a safe distance, Leonardo bore witness to Goliath's transformation.
As the gargoyle's brief pain turned into powerful roars, Goliath increased in size, manifested an armor and horned helmet and gained formidable magical power. He had donned the Eye of Odin and transformed into the avatar of Odin. "Let us see that strength of yours!" Goliath declared, his voice now profoundly more booming. Leonardo watched as Goliath's body began to emit lightning, and as the Eye of Odin glowed, a bolt of lightning launched at Leonardo, catching the ninja turtle off guard. Knocking the ninja turtle to the ground and again disarming his foe.
"You have but experienced a mere fragment of my power" Goliath declared as, now with the true capability to fly, took off into the skies above New York, where he conjured a sphere of magical energy, and launched it to the clouds above. In just moments, the clouds began to behave erratically, and soon, lightning and thunder reigned over New York City. Leonardo glared up to see dark skies over the city, which left him with fewer options.
(Cue It Has To Be This Way - Jamie Christopherson & Logan Mader)
Retrieving the Gunshin, Leonardo concentrated and put his hands together. In moments, a golden aura coated Leonardo. Remembering the words of his instructor Kon, "Quiet your mind to unleash your spirit". As he concentrated further, the golden aura began to swirl around Leonardo as he began to ascend into the skies. At this time, Goliath, unsure of what was happening, began to fly down to Leonardo's location, but he would not get far before the golden aura ascended upward, causing him to stop in his tracks.
"If you are on the highest plane, it will manifest as a dragon" Kon's words echoed through Leonardo's mind as a blinding light briefly illuminated the night sky, almost as if it became daylight for the briefest period. As the light quelled, Goliath could again see. Only now, Leonardo had undergone a transformation of his own. Leonardo has transformed into a powerful dragon. A massive bedwarfshat dwarf Goliath even when empowered by the Eye of Odin. With green skin, blue scales, and wings with extraordinarily sharp edges.
"What?! A Dragon? That's not possible!" Goliath uttered in sheer astonishment. But he had little time to process this development, as Dragon Leonardo soared across the skies toward Goliath, the two of them now capable of flight. Immediately, Goliath's response was to, once again, conjure the power of lightning. Channelling its awesome power through his body, Goliath launched the lightning bolts at Leonardo. But a Dragon was not afraid of mere lightning. Leonardo countered by launching a stream of blue fire from his mouth. The two elemental powers collided, but not for long, as Leonardo soared through the skies and evaded the lightning.
"Shiver at the power of a god!" Goliath boomed as he called upon his powers to conjure a storm. But instead of lightning bolts, Goliath summoned forth a powerful blizzard, directing it in Leonardo's direction. Seeing the oncoming attack, Leonardo maneuvered himself around the cold chill, using his fire breath to melt ice he couldn't avoid. But this was creating the opportunities Goliath needed. At the moment Leonardo spent evading the blizzard, Goliath launched a lightning bolt, successfully striking Leonardo.
Though the bolt was mighty, it did not inflict any harm, and soon, Leonardo was soaring toward Goliath yet again. Angered that his displays of power were not proving effective, Goliath was compelled to draw forth more of it. No matter the cost. Unleashing a profoundly powerful roar, one that Leonardo returned in kind, Goliath felt a surge of energy coursing through his body, the power which he needed to defeat this mighty foe.
"The mortal desire for power knows no limits. And with my power, your defeat is but certain!" Goliath proclaimed as he flew towards Leonardo. The ninja turtle turned Dragon flew to Goliath in kind, the two were on a collision course, and there was no way out. As an act of cunning on Goliath's part, the avatar of Odin conjured a spear of magical power and hurled it at Leonardo. Having prepared to attack with his flames, the Dragon was helpless to prevent the spear from impaling him.
A howl overcame Leonardo as he relented to the spear's successful piercing. A devilish grin rose over Goliath's face, seeing the fruits of his cunning unfold. Though the attack did not last very long as Leonardo simply turned his head, bit into the spear and tore it from his body. Astonished by the endurance of his foe, Goliath launched another lightning bolt, which Leonardo matched with blue flames.
Seeing that his foe was still very powerful, Goliath knew he had to keep applying the pressure. Knowing the immense power at his fingertips, Goliath submitted to it more. "You cannot surpass me!" Goliath proclaimed as he rose into the skies. With every ounce of power he possessed, Goliath darkened the sky above him, the storms and icy cold winds became more intense and electricity flickered across his entire body.
The Dragon glared up to see that Goliath was mustering the strength to call forth an elemental onslaught, everything all at once. In a display that can only be described with biblical proportions, The lightning and thunder turned the sky into a dance of bolts and strikes. A chilling blizzard cascaded across, afflicting the entirety of the sky with a cold embrace, and Goliath once again summoned a spear of magical power.
Under the effects of this elemental bombardment, Leonardo had but one solution. But it would take everything he had. Unleashing a stream of blue flame in front of him, Leonardo burned his way through the storm and blizzard, being careful to avoid the lightning bolts as they approach "You cannot defy the very natures of our world!" Goliath proclaimed as he continued to maintain his elemental attacks. But slowly, Leonardo was making his way toward Goliath.
Refusing to allow Leonardo a chance at attack, Goliath tossed the magical spear toward Leonardo. But instead of charging into it, Leonardo swiftly evaded it and charged toward Goliath at breakneck speeds. Goliath was astonished and attempted to shoot a lightning bolt at close range. But he was unable to do so in time. Leonardo's Dragon form slashed at the smaller Goliath, which knocked Goliath down and now plummeted toward the ground. Leonardo capitalized on this moment and immediately nosedived.
Grabbing into and holding Goliath, Leonardo refused to allow him the ability to conjure any more elemental powers. As the two plummeted toward New York City below, Goliath saw the position he was in and instinctively channelled the lightning through his body and allowed himself to be struck alongside Leonardo. While it freed Goliath from the dragon's grasp, Leonardo was quick to counter, firing his blue flames at Goliath, which connected.
While Goliath attempted to combat the flames, overpowering Goliath was not Leonardo's goal. The dragon intensified the beam of blue fire, and suddenly, Goliath was sent careening to the ground, without realizing it, Goliath was about to crash land on the very rooftop they had taken off from when they both took flight. Leonardo watched carefully and stopped his blue flames. Goliath impacted against the rooftop, forming a massive crater.
As a last resort, Goliath launched a lightning bolt to stall Leonardo's descent. But without warning, Leonardo revert to his normal state, which astonished Goliath immediately. As Leonardo has calculated, Goliath's impact caused the Gunshin to launch into the air. In an impressive display of skill and finesse, Leonardo brandished the Gunshin, activating his mystic powers one last time and thrust the sword into the necklace that housed the Eye of Odin.
With a powerful light, Goliath was finally separated from the power of the Eye of Odin, the necklace lay in pieces on the ground, with the Eye itself left to the side.Removing the Gunshin from Goliath's upper torso, Leonardo sheathed the weapon as he saw Goliath was now struggling to continue. "Leonardo... you had every opportunity to vanquish me, even with the immense power I used to stop you" Goliath was surprised to see Leonardo's conviction still in full effect, even after everything Goliath had done in the name of stopping Leonardo.
“Turtles fight with honor” Leonardo declared. The ninja turtle attempted to aid Goliath, but it was unsuccessful, the damage had already been inflicted, and it was near fatal. "You are too kind... Leonardo" Goliath felt he was undeserving of Leonardo's sympathy. But that notion was dismissed by Leonardo. "You commanded great power, but it was consuming you, and it could have resulted in the annihilation of everything we fight to protect. Our home, our families, everything" Leonardo's words resonated with Goliath, who, despite nearing the end of his life, persisted. "Please, I wish to return to my family. You have already saved me from perishing as a mindless victim of power. Now I wish to pass on surrounded by the people I swore to protect" Goliath asked of Leonardo, to which the Ninja Turtle obliged.
Outside of their ancient castle home, the Manhattan Clan witnessed Leonardo's arrival with Goliath in tow. Everyone had so many questions, but Goliath quelled them all to make his peace. "Leonardo has saved me from my greatest failure of all. Putting all your lives at risk. Please... forgive me." Elisa, most of all, clung to Goliath to be as close to him as she could. From an adjacent rooftop, the remnants of the storm revealed that the rest of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Splinter had travelled to join Leonardo.
"Leonardo and his family are as we are, the only ones we still have. My final request to you all, please... work together as one united family" Goliath asked of his clan, his family, and Leonardo and his family. Goliath slowly shut his eyes and Elisa comforted the gargoyle in his final moments. All over, everyone expressed sadness, pain, regret, and solemn emotions. "Everyone... thank you, and please... protect this world, all of you, together!" Goliath uttered his final words as he final breath exhaled.
Trying to bury his guilt for killing Goliath, Leonardo was soon comforted by his brothers, and his master, and soon, the Manhattan Clan consoled Leonardo, wishing for his pain to heal so he too can best serve Goliath's dying wish. From that day forward, New York was protected by the combined forces of the Manhattan Clan from their ancient castle above, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from their sewer below. Their human allies in the middle helped their fight against evil persist for many years to come. Though Leonardo struggled, the pain would be overcome with the honor of having upheld Goliath's wishes.
K.O.!
Conclusion[]
(Cue Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Main Theme (Instrumental) - Norman J. Grossfeld and Russell Velazquez)
Boomstick: So... this was a battle between a gargoyle and a turtle, right?
Wiz: Although Goliath had advantages in his corner, they simply couldn't hold up against Leonardo. Despite having more combatant experience, Goliath lacks experience with a broad array of foes. Only once he got to the 20th century did he start fighting more distinct adversaries. Also, he sleeps for 12 hours every day. Once that becomes half a month, half a year, and so on, Goliath's experience advantage is far less insurmountable compared to Leonardo, who is literally a teenager.
Boomstick: He's a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, get it right! But yeah, having learned Ninjutsu since he was young, he's been through far superior training from more experienced teachers. Which makes it hard for Goliath to use his superior strength in a straightforward confrontation. Plus, compared to Goliath, Leo has fought a more diverse array of opponents. Even in just one iteration!
Wiz: Foot Ninja, Mousers, Stone Warriors, Triceratons, other Mutants, Leonardo was more than prepared for a fight with someone stronger than him. And with his ninja training, Leonardo can easily control the battle and create opportunities to strike Goliath. But since both have advantages over the other, a quick victory just wasn't on the table, it was going to take a more creative approach, which Leonardo was more likely to achieve.
Boomstick: Helps that Leo was faster than Goliath. Never thought I'd be saying a turtle is faster than a gargoyle, but here we are! And with that greater speed, it was even more likely for Leo to think of a game-winning strategy first. Plus having a plethora of weapons meant that Leo had multiple ways he could approach the fight.
Wiz: But Goliath wasn't without options. Using the Eye of Odin put Goliath at a level of power above Leonardo, and he could've easily annihilated him given the chance. But Leonardo's Dragon transformation was more than comparable, and thanks to literally being a dragon, Leonardo could take to the skies, which evened up the playing field even more. But the Eye of Odin was far more dangerous to Goliath himself, especially the longer he used it.
Boomstick: Gaining power at the expense of his sanity ultimately cost Goliath the fight, as Leo's Dragon transformation kept him fully in sync with his body, spirit and mind. That complete control ensured Leo could end the fight as honorably and as respectfully as possible. Plus it meant Goliath could die as a gargoyle, rather than a force of nature that lost himself. That's just Leo for you.
Wiz: Goliath is a mighty foe for anyone to have to battle, but his experience and tremendous physical strength were unable to best Leonardo and his superior training, speed, equipment, abilities, and more creative use of the environment.
Boomstick: At the end of the day, Leo's victory was set in "stone".
Wiz: The winner is Leonardo.
Original Track[]
An Original Track for this fight would be titled "Superstition and the Sword".
The track's title is a reference to the opening narration of the Gargoyles TV series and Leonardo's signature weapons, swords.
Trivia[]
- The connections between Goliath and Leonardo are that they are the leaders of groups (Wyvern Clan and Manhattan Clan, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) that operate in New York, serving as the city’s protectors at night-time. As the leaders of their teams, both are highly intelligent in combat, strategy and tactics. Despite the heroics of their teams, they have been shunned by humans due to their appearance. Due to not having names beforehand, their protectors named them after famous historical figures (Goliath, the Philistine giant and Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance polymath). Through acclimating to New York and their new roles, their teams were able to gain human allies (Elisa Maza, and April O’Neil and Casey Jones, respectively), became the enemy of the antagonist (David Xanatos and The Shredder), and had a complicated dynamic with their enemy’s major ally (Demona and Karai).