I've read this story before numerous times and I love both versions. The amount of love in this fic is just breathtaking. The way you weave the past and present together, the incredible skill and realism with which you navigated the entire issue and how it has haunted them is awesome in the true sense of the word. I really can't express just how beautiful this series is and every few years it's one of my old favourites, like comfort food and an achingly bittersweet memory in one. Your beautiful prose entangled me, I become entranced, fascinated by the dark undercurrent and glimpses of something broken, the churning confusion beneath layers of social conditioning, guilt and self-hate. There's such a rich-intensity to the experience of reading this story, it seeps into your soul and leads you along. Thanks again for another wonderful night, immersed in the beauty and darkness.

Obviously you posted this a long time ago and I don't know if this is an account you even check anymore, but I have to let you know that your story is fantastic. I love Leo. He's definitely my favorite brother and your representation of him is frightening and heartbreaking. Do you still write? Post anywhere? I was also wondering if you ever wrote anymore of Damnation? I would love to read the rest of the story.

Ive come across you accidentally, found myself wrestling my emotions embroiled in this epic story of growth and guidance. An amazing memorable read, one that will stay with me.
I don't know if you'll ever see this, but know that in finding you, I found more of them.

I really enjoyed this story and was sad to see it end. I would like to read this Damnation you speak of, though i cannot find the website listed where you have said it should be located. You have great talent in your writing. I hope this story will continue elsewhere. I have found myself intrigued by what was omitted. Please help me to find Damnation. My curiosity is strong, and neglecting to quell will be a mistake. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story. I hope to read more.

I would like to read this alternate chapter, but where can i find it? You say you mentioned it above, but i have yet to find where it is located. I prefer to read original stories as well as those rewritten for lesser audiences. Please direct me to these said alternates. I would appreciate the read. Thanks

I don't have words to re all express how amazing this fix was to me. Every time I was like omg, this is one thing is amazing, some other part of your writing popped out and amazed me as well. So much depth and character development. This is something I'd definitely recommend to new writers as a reference in writing. Thanks for the great read.

I kind of want to thankyou for writing this topic the way you have (not the way most people do, either glorified we're outcasts anyway kind of way, or vicious and hateful)
This was written so well and lovely and now I feel like I should go read damnation even though I suspect it will kill me.

I found your writing style so unique and engaging. After reading through your trilogy I can honestly say you had me hooked through the whole thing. You definitely have a talent! The past and present stories strung well together, letting the reader gradually learn as the story progresses. At parts it almost feels like a string of consciousness. I hope to one day write a story half as impressive as this one! Bravo, and thank you for sharing this story with us

I'm going to pull my strength and carry on to Damnation. But know that this fic has impacted me in so many ways, and no doubt will haunt me until I lie dying.

I may never fully understand why, but there is more here between these written lines and the life I had, the childhood marred, the past a hidden secret, retold a million times in my own mind, reedited and re scripted to make sense, to fill voids with nothing but air where substance should have been. You have written down my blood and bones in this story and I ... am afraid and feel exposed. But I have to press on and read the rest, if anything, like Leonardo, I need to find the missing pages.

This is so heart-breaking, gosh, I wish I could talk to you, you don't know what this story is doing to me, what effect it's having on me. I am currently reading To Kill a Mockingbird to help me understand, though so much of this I do, from personal experience, unfortunately.

Eep! Was not expecting this turn of events at all. Excellent and surprising!

Oh I knew that's what the schematics were for! Yay! I guessed it right!

Loved Mikey in this, oh you nailed his complexity, too much is he marginalized and diminished in the newest incarnations and in so many fanworks, probably even in some of my own. Well done!

Your handling of this is delicate and to me it hits a little too close to home.

Growing up so isolated...Splinter twisting Leonardo into something he wasn't meant to be...the curiosity...the longing and all the natural urges that come with it at this age...ih but the weight of this...to have to carry this heavy, ugly thing in the pit of your stomach for the rest of your life. I dunno. I believe the story stands fine without these two chapters, and honestly could be their own, separate story, but that being said - you make it work inside this universe - this Raph and Leo going through what they're going through - you made me see how it could happen...actually...well, no not on a public forum. Maybe never.

It is an ugly thing to carry.

I have never stayed up past midnight reading a fanfic before - I've done it with published fiction but you alone have written something that compelled me to continue reading and come back to it at 5 am. Quite a feat, my friend.

Oh excellent, Loved Leo's support of Raph's actions at the end there. Lizzie's reactions to realizing and confronting the truth that she already knew well and good was superb.

wow. Blown away.
I feel that it lies in Splinter's mistakes - that much of this took root and festered. I am not known for my fondness of the rat - I am not sure why I am often provoked into writing him cold, distant and harsh, but perhaps it is my own inner dislike, my own defiance towards authority figures that stand so immovable so righteous in their own narrow wisdom. I rail against it. And thus, my Splinter is often depicted skewed, to some. But here in this chapter it is very clear to me. He is not perfection. He is not knowledge complete. He is in fact, as fallible as any other. And given the role of not only teacher, but father, parent, the damage he creates is that much more far reaching.
All the broken pieces . . . sewn together with poorly constructed intentions . . . all the misunderstandings . . . all the unfairness thrust between two brothers who should be whole. Who would have been had there been no competition, no placement of one over another by this authority figure. If given the chance to really be equals, none of the anger and hurt would have gone to seed . ..
Oh well done. Well done, indeed.