Full Summary:

Pars Era, the year 2017, Friday, November 24. The annual Black Friday Battle at the Atropatene Mall has begun. With Maryam Estates backing out this year, Pars Corporation and Ecbatana Apartments are short a couple hundred or so people, so Andragoras has Arslan call the Turtles, to recruit them for this event.

Arslan Tanner Baris is about to embark on his "maiden battle" this year. He is thirteen years old, and he doesn't want to be there.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Thanksgiving night

The Baris family, and their guests, Daryun and his uncle Vahriz, and Hermes' girlfriend Irina Metaxas, had just sat down to dinner. They had just been served their portions, and got done saying Grace and dug into their meal. Just before everybody finished, Andragoras-who by this point had been out of jail for several weeks-abruptly stood up and stepped away from the table, holding his plate. He had taken another helping of the dinner.

"Arslan and I will take our portions to go," the trollish man said and pulled his son from his chair. "Son," he said to the young teen. "Get another plate together!"

"Hey! Dad!" Arslan protested.

Tahamine suddenly dropped her knife and fork on her plate and looked at her husband with a piercing glare. "Andragoras, we talked about this. You know how I feel about you forcing our children to participate in this...bloodbath. You do what you want, but leave Arslan out of this!"

"What are you talking-?" Osroes asked, then stopped and groaned at his younger brother. "Oh, no, no. Andy, don't do this, especially not to your son."

Irina looked at Hermes and asked, "What are they talking about?"

Daryun shook his head and facepalmed while explaining. "Mr. Baris is taking Arslan to the mall tonight, so they can go shopping tomorrow."

"Can't they just wait until morning to-Wait, isn't tomorrow Black Friday?" Irina asked.

"Yeah," Osroes replied with a sigh.

"But that's dangerous!" Irina said. "My sister ended up with both her legs broken last year!"

"Broken legs or not, this is a Baris family tradition!" Andragoras said proudly. "It's an age-old tradition, going back generations."

"It's not an age-old tradition," Osroes said and rolled his eyes. "Dad started participating in that stupid event after realizing it was a cheaper way to get Christmas presents."

"Nevertheless," Andragoras retorted and kept his hold on Arslan. "Black Friday is an honorable battle, and I've been a proud participant since I was thirteen years old."

"Yeah, and every year since then, you've been beaten up, arrested, or both!" said an irate Osroes. "Leaving either Mom or your wife to pay your bail, and any fines you've incurred!"

"Yes," Andragoras replied, not the least bit embarrassed about what his brother brought up. "And this year is Arslan's maiden battle, since he is now of age."

"I don't feel right about Arslan doing this," Tahamine said.

"I agree with Tahamine, Andy," Osroes said.

"Don't call me Andy!" Andragoras exclaimed.

"I don't feel right about my sweet nephew getting involved in this brawl," Osroes continued.

Arslan looked warily at his father. "Dad, I don't think I want to do this."

"Arslan, you are a Baris," Andragoras said in a firm manner, authority emanating from his towering figure. "Every child of the Baris family participates in this battle once they reach thirteen years of age. Just ask Hermes; he did it twice."

"Yeah," Hermes said. "The first year, I ended up with my arm in a sling, and the year after that, I had to wear a back brace. Trust me, Ars, you're not missing anything."

"Well, if I'm not missing anything, I might as well stay home, then," Arslan said quickly and attempted to return to his seat, only to be stopped by his father.

"Arslan Tanner Baris, you're not getting out of this," Andragoras said while pulling his son back from the chair. "Go get your sleeping bag and meet me in the lobby." He pushed Arslan towards his room.

"But, Dad, I-" Arslan started, then stopped when he saw Andragoras glaring at him. "Alright." He then rushed to his room.

After a few silent minutes, Tahamine slowly got up from her chair, and stormed up to her husband. "You had better bring my baby back unharmed, you hear me? Not one scratch. Not one bruise. If Arslan is hurt in any way, you better pray to God to help you!"

Andragoras gulped and pleaded with his wife, "Tahamine, be reasonable."

"Not. One. Scratch! Not. One. Bruise! Do you understand?" Tahamine hissed, her blue eyes showing her anger at Andragoras putting her child in harm's way. Andragoras timidly nodded, holding his hands up in surrender.

Tahamine backed off and said quietly, "Good. I'm glad we understand each other." She sat back down at the table with Shireen and the other guests.

After a while, Arslan, Andragoras, Vahriz, and Daryun were ready to leave the apartment. Arslan was about to walk out the door, but was stopped by his baby sister latching onto him.

"No!" Shireen exclaimed and looked up at Arslan. "You can't go to Atropatene, Ars! You can't!"

Arslan knelt down to Shireen's level and took her off him. "Listen, Rena, I don't want to do this either. I wish I didn't have to, but Dad's-"

"Arslan!" Andragoras interrupted the siblings. "What's keeping you?! Shireen, you know better than to prevent your brother from embarking on his maiden battle!"

"I'm coming, Dad," Arslan said with a bit of irritation in his voice. After Andragoras left his kids alone, Arslan gave Shireen a hug. "I'll be back, don't worry."

After letting go of her brother, Shireen, still upset, said, "Promise me you won't die at that place."

"I promise," Arslan said. He patted Shireen on the head, picked his sleeping bag up, and hurried to catch up with his father.

"Well, we should be going now," Vahriz said with a sigh. "Let's go, Daryun."

"Coming," Daryun replied and followed his uncle towards the door. Before he could leave, he was stopped by Tahamine. "Mrs. Baris? What's up?"

"Here," Tahamine said and handed the older teen a thermos and a package. "Hot chocolate and sugar cookies for Arslan. They're two of his favorites. That way he at least has something to warm him up, since his father's so insistent on forcing him to participate in Black Friday."

Shireen ran into the apartment and looked up to Daryun. "Make sure my brother comes back alive, Daryun."

"Don't worry, Rena," Daryun assured the little girl. "Ars will be okay, as long as I'm with him. Plus my uncle will be there as well."

"Thank you," Shireen said and smiled. After that, Daryun took the containers Tahamine gave him and left the apartment with his uncle.

Moments later, Andragoras, Arslan, and their reinforcements from Ecbatana Apartments and Pars Corporation arrived at the Atropatene Mall. The mall wouldn't open for several hours yet, so the Pars soldiers, plus people from Lusitania Villas, set up camp outside, along with hundreds of other shoppers. They wasted no time in getting out their sleeping bags, blankets, and other necessities.

Arslan had just set up his sleeping bag and was leaving his and his father's tent, when he heard Andragoras talking to him.

"Arslan, I just got an idea," Andragoras said.

"What?" Arslan asked.

"Remember those green kids you introduced me and your mother to?" Andragoras said. "What were they called again? Lizards?"

"No, Dad, they're turtles," Arslan replied. "Why are you asking about my friends?"

"You said they're martial artists," Andragoras said.

"Yeah..." Arslan said.

"How good are they?"

"Very good," said Arslan. "Almost expert level. Why?"

"I want you to give them a call," Andragoras explained. "Ask them to come here."

"Okay, I'll do th-" Arslan said and got out his phone. Then he stopped and gave his father a dirty look. "Wait a minute. You want me to recruit my friends for this brawl, don't you?"

"Of course," Andragoras said matter-of-factly. "With their skills, and our numbers, we can beat those Lusitania bastards this Black Friday!"

"But, Dad, I don't-" Arslan began but was interrupted.

"We need all the numbers we can muster!" Andragoras said. "Especially since Maryam Estates backed out this year!"

"I really don't want to-" Arslan started, but was cut off again by his father.

"Listen, Arslan," Andragoras said and got in his son's face. "You better call your friends, and get them over to this mall. Right now, young man! Or else I'll ground you for the rest of the year! Got that?"

"Yes, sir," a defeated Arslan replied. He sighed and dialed the number to Leo's cell. He heard the phone ring, until Leo answered.

"Hi, Ars," Leo said after answering.

"Hey, Leo," Arslan said. "Listen, I need you and your brothers to come to the Atropatene Mall right away."

"Now?" Leo asked. "But it's Thanksgiving; the mall's not open."

"I know, but my dad said you're needed," Arslan replied.

"Okay," Leo said. "We'll be right there."

"Thanks," Arslan said. "And I'm sorry to have to call you out here."

"It's no problem, Ars," Leo said. "See you soon. Bye." Arslan heard him hang up, then hung up himself and put his phone back in his jacket pocket. Suddenly, he started shivering, and his teeth started to chatter. He looked over and saw Andragoras take something out of a bag: a thermos full of some kind of warm food or drink, judging by the steam Arslan saw coming from the container.

"Hey, Dad," Arslan asked after going over to his father. "Whatever that is, can I have some? I'm really freezing here."

"No!" Andragoras said sharply and held the warm substance away from his shivering son. "Get your own stuff! It's every man for himself at this time of year!"

"Y-y-you j-j-j-jerk!" Arslan said angrily and stormed away from his father. His countenance brightened when he saw Daryun rush over to him.

"Ars!" Daryun called, then stopped once he caught up with the boy.

"I'm glad you're here, Daryun," Arslan said happily, then sneezed and coughed. "Great. Now I'm catching a cold." He continued shivering and wrapped his arms around himself to try to keep warm.

Daryun put an arm around his friend and said, "Come on, let's get you warmed up." He led Arslan away from Andragoras, towards where Jericho, Soren, and Musa were, along with their parents who worked for Pars Corporation. The three boys were sipping from warm thermoses, and had blankets around them.

"Ars!" Musa said after seeing his friend. "You look terrible."

"I feel terrible," Arslan said while Daryun draped a blanket around his shoulders.

"Here," Daryun said and handed Arslan a thermos and a package of sugar cookies. When Arslan looked first at the containers then at Daryun, the teen continued, "Your mom wanted me to give you these. They're two of your favorites." He gave Arslan a pat on the head and sat down next to the group. "I saw how your dad was treating you. It just isn't right."

"Thanks, Daryun," Arslan said. He wiped his now runny nose on his blanket, then took a sip of the hot chocolate. Then he took out a cookie and dunked it in the hot chocolate. He shared the cookies with his friends.

Minutes later, Arslan, Daryun, Jericho, Soren, and Musa were greeted by the Turtles.

"Guys, hi!" Soren said. "What are you doing here?"

"Ars called us," Donnie replied. "He said his dad needed us."

"Yeah," Arslan said. He looked over his shoulder and groaned. "Oh no, here he comes now."

Andragoras walked over to where Arslan was posted with his friends. He saw the Turtles and said, "Turtles. Good, you made it."

"So, Mr. Baris," Leo said. "What did you need us for?"

"Yeah, and why are all these people camped outside the mall?" Mikey asked.

"I had Arslan call you here because you four are needed for a very important battle," said Andragoras.

"Battle? What battle?" Raph asked. "Last time I checked, except for the occasional rap battle or dance-off, battles aren't fought at malls."

"Well, this is a special battle," Andragoras explained to the Turtles. "One that is fought every year on the day after Thanksgiving."

"The only big event that's held in malls the day after Thanksgiving is-Oh, man!" Donnie said. "Black Friday!"

"Wait, what's wrong with Black Friday?" Mikey asked.

"During Black Friday, stores mark their products' prices much lower than they usually are," Donnie replied. "During this time, people, like the ones we see here, usually barge into the stores once they open, in order to snatch up as many items they can get their hands on."

"I've heard of people getting sent to the hospital after getting injured in this event!" Leo added.

"What?!" Mikey asked, his voice full of alarm.

"Yup," Arslan said. "Those stories aren't entirely exaggerated. That's why I didn't want to call you here."

"Oh no!" Mikey exclaimed. "We've gotta get you outta here, Ars! You might not make it out alive!" He made to pull Arslan away from the mall, but was stopped by Andragoras.

"Oh no!" Andragoras said. "This is Arslan's maiden battle! He is staying!"

Leo looked from Arslan, to his brothers. "We have no choice, guys. Because Mr. Baris insists on making Ars do this, we need to stay, if only to make sure Arslan and our other friends don't get seriously injured."

"Uh...Right," the other three Turtles said hesitantly.

Friday, November 24, 2017

Black Friday

The next morning, the Ecbatana Apartments/Pars Corporation faction, along with the Lusitania Villas faction and other shoppers, awoke in the early hours to another cold day. Andragoras and a still sneezing and coughing Arslan rolled up their sleeping bags and folded their tent, while other soldiers, plus the Turtles, did the same thing. Andragoras marched up to the front of his faction and led his troops in a prayer to the Baris family ancestors.

"I call upon my ancestors," Andragoras said loudly. "Jamshid. Kaykhusraw. And all the other Baris family patriarchs. We beseech you to watch over the army of Pars Corporation and Ecbatana Apartments!" He then noticed everyone in the faction, including his son, staring at him like he had two heads.

"Dad, nobody's saying that," Arslan said and rolled his eyes.

"Oh, forget it!" an embarrassed Andragoras said and raised his fist as soon as the mall doors opened. "Yashasuiin!"

The Turtles were swept along with the Pars faction while everyone literally ran at breakneck speed into the mall.