Okay, so this is my first fan fiction, so please be kind and review, constructively. This is based on the 2012 Nickelodeon/Viacom reboot which was based, in turn, on characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.

I own nothing except for certain situations and the character of Robbie.

Also, as no clear time span is acknowledged in the television series, except for the two-part series opener, I say that this happens about a month after the events of "Never Say Xever" the eighth episode of the season.

Prologue – Robbie

He opened the window slowly and silently, forcing himself to slow his, up to that moment, shallow breathing.

Don't let an alarm go off! Please don't let an alarm go off, he prayed. Though it wasn't the first time he'd done it, it always made Robbie nervous when he would break into a house or store to nick something.

He took a step forward and stopped. He always did this. Hesitate due to the moral implications of his deeds. Moving his brown hair from his eyes, Robbie reassured himself. "It's not like I don't know that this is wrong, but, hey, this is New York. Burglaries happen all the time and I'll pay them back."

That was how Robbie would make himself feel better about stealing. He would keep an eye on the places he'd steal from and make sure no one else got the idea to knock over the joints for reasons of pure greed. Unlike most street people and gangs nowadays, Robbie would steal only the things he absolutely needed. Food. Once a year or so, clothes. Things like that. Necessities.

Taking a deep breath, he took another step forward. And another, entering the small grocery shop on the East Side further, Then he saw what he came for, a bag of apples and a pack of bottled water. Slowly advancing, he grabbed the items and quickly turned back to the small window through which he had entered.

Once he was outside, Robbie breathed a sigh of relief. He was about to leave when a familiar voice spoke up from the shadows. "Nice job, kid."

Robbie swore under his breath and turned to face the source of his trouble.

Of course, it was Fong, the leader of the local street gang, the Purple Dragons. He was alone, so Robbie knew that the other two members of the Dragons were hiding nearby.

"What do you want, Fong?" Robbie asked, spitting his question out venomously.

"We been watching you for the past couple months. You've got a real style. Sneaking in, avoiding the alarms, and such." He took a step toward Robbie, who impulsively stepped back. "And we was wondering if you want to join up with us."

"We?" Robbie turned, only to find himself face-to-chest with Sid. Sid was the strongman of the group. He was 220 lbs of pure muscle, with a thick head to match, and he rarely used a weapon. The boy was going to quickly step to the side and take off, but Sid gripped his shoulders tightly and turned him toward the advancing Fong.

"We could use a guy like you," Fong continued.

"You mean to blame if you're ever caught?" countered Robbie coolly. "I've seen what happens to people who hang out with you guys. Well, thanks for the offer, but I'm not going to follow you guys around and wait to be used as a scapegoat."

Fong frowned, but that soon gave way to a crooked smile. One that made Robbie a little nervous. He drew in closer. Robbie could see the last Purple Dragon appear behind his leader. Tsoi, with his bushy black moustache and his signature weapon, a sledgehammer.

Fong's breath reeked, making Robbie's stomach do a double flip. "One more chance, kid," he whispered menacingly. "Join up, or we persuade you to."

Robbie paused, as though considering the threat laden ultimatum when he slammed his foot into Fong's shin and rammed his elbow into Sid's stomach. Both jumped back, Fong in pain and Sid in surprise.

With Robbie free, he didn't need to be told what to do next. He ran in the direction of the nearest alleyway when he heard a pained groan. Distracted, he caught his feet on each other and down he went.

Turning on his back, what he saw both confused and amazed him. Less than a yard away from him, standing over a stunned hammer-wielding Tsoi, was a… turtle?

Robbie blinked and blew the hair from his eyes. Yep. It was a turtle, shell and all. A human-sized turtle holding what looked like salad tongs in the dim lighting.

"Hey, Fong!" called a voice overhead. Robbie looked up and watched as three more giant turtles leapt from the roof of a nearby building. They landed on their feet and approached the gang. "You getting your kicks from threatening kids now?" asked one of the turtles.

"They talk!" thought Robbie, his eyes widening. "They TALK!"

"The turtles!" shouted Fong. Robbie could hear the hate in his voice. The Purple Dragons obviously had a bad history with these guys.

Tsoi and Sid got to their feet and looked at both their leader and their attackers. "Don't just stand there! Get them!"

What came next happened so fast that Robbie could barely keep track of what went on.

Tsoi went after the turtle with the salad tongs, while Sid fought two of the other turtles. One held a long wooden staff and the other twirled something. Robbie couldn't tell what it was, but he could tell that being hit with whatever it was hurt.

Tsoi swung his sledgehammer at the turtle's head, only for the creature to dive to the side and swing his leg out, knocking the thug off his feet.

Sid, being weaponless, did what he always did best: mindlessly swing his fits as he concentrated on his two intended targets. He landed a blow on the one whose weapon still had no name to Robbie, only to take a hit to the face from the other's staff.

"Oof!" grunted Sid as he stumbled back. He took a kick to the stomach and collapsed.

"Meddling reptiles," Robbie heard Fong say to the turtle he fought. He'd pulled a meat cleaver from his belt and was fighting off his opponent, who was effortlessly dodging the attacks. Fong swung his hand down an arm's length away when the turtle grabbed, twisted so the gang member was forced to drop his knife, and flipped him onto his back.

The turtle placed a foot on Fong's chest and pulled something out from the back of his shell. A sword or, more specifically, a katana.

Placing the sword's point under Fong's chin, the turtle spoke. "Now," he said calmly, "what do say to the kid?"

"Sorry," he hissed furiously.

"Good boy," the turtle said. In the sparse light of the street, Robbie could see a faint smile on the turtle's face. Robbie watched as his rescuers stood away from the Purple Dragons and allowed them to get to their feet.

Fong looked around and, in a tone that refused to serve in hiding his fear, called for the Dragons to retreat.

"Yeah, and don't let me catch you punks pickin' on some kid again! Ya hear?" the turtle that beat Tsoi shouted after them.

The turtle with the staff cautiously approached Robbie and held out his three-fingered hand. Robbie hesitated before he accepted.

"Thanks," he said quietly.

"Don't mention it," said the turtle.

"You know, you should be more careful," said the one with katana, who seemed to be the leader.

Robbie didn't respond. He just watched as the turtles jumped to the roof of a building and disappeared. When they were gone, he left for home, not even bothering to grab his loot.