When Raphael is brutally attacked in the lair; his brothers find him the next morning barely alive. Refusing to tell them who attacked him; they vow to find out. But what happens when the truth is harsher than reality.
Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo all stood the nearby rooftop to the warehouse they were watching. Reports had come in of a drop off with the Purple Dragons. A large shipment of weapons was due in and in the wrong hands; would cause massive destruction. The turtles watched carefully waiting to slip into the warehouse.
"All right; here's the plan. Raph and me will sneak in on the east side while you two sneak on the other side and wait for the signal to attack." Leo ordered. Raph grumbled but followed his older brother's command. Something told him that this wasn't a good idea. He tried telling Leo something didn't feel right but his brother didn't listen.
"Leo, I still don't like this. This feels like a trap." Raph said. Leo turned to his younger brother. "Since when do you care if it's a trap or not. You'd rather jump in. So who are you and where is my brother Raphael?" Leo retorted. "I'm still here Leo and I ain't going in there. Maybe ya could listen to my thoughts for a change on something. I know topside better than all of you." Stunned, Leo turned his attention to his younger brother. Although he did have a point about knowing topside better since he has been going topside longer. Yet this unlike Raphael to not want to bust some heads. Something was wrong and even Leo had given it a brief thought. "Maybe Raph is right but he never listens to me anyway." "If you're so scared then wait outside Raph."
"I ain't scared Fearless I'm just saying something about this doesn't feel right. I know I don't listen to ya but maybe for once consider my opinion." Raph stated. Leo stared at him for a moment. "My order still stands with or without you Raphael." Raph mumbled. "I'll wait outside. I'm sure you guys can handle one fight without me." With that Raphael leapt away to an adjacent rooftop. Sighing; Leo jumped thru the upper window spotting his brothers on the opposite side.
Donatello and Michelangelo watched as Leo jumped in by himself. "I wonder if they had another fight." Mikey said. Donnie glanced over. "Yeah probably anyway let's wait for Leo signal." The three brothers watched the Purple Dragons unload crate after crate while Hun and Stockman lead the deal. "You sure this is gonna work Stockman. The turtles are not that stupid to walk into a trap." Hun said turning to Stockman. "Trust me it will. When they attack; put your masks on and start spraying the mist. The mist will slowly gain control of their minds and they will attack each other; thus saves us the trouble of doing so." Stockman explained. "If ya say so; hurry up with the unloading before those turtle freaks show up.
From the shadows, Leo, Don and Mikey watched the crates be unloaded. Leo crouched behind some crates while Don and Mikey did the same. They didn't notice the Purple Dragon place gas masks on. Giving the signal, they jumped out and attacked the Purple Dragons. Kicking several gang members away from the crates; Leo flipped over and knocked some to the ground. Donatello spun his bo-staff effectively taking some more out while Michelangelo busted some Dragons over their heads with his nun chucks. The gang members fell quickly without much of a fight. "This isn't right Leo. Why aren't they putting up a fight like they usually do?" Don asked. Leo noticed as well how little of a resistance they were getting. "Damn, maybe Raph was right." He muttered to himself. "Guys fall back, we're leaving." Leo ordered. From above; Hun and Stockman watched as the turtles attacked. "They're missing one. Doesn't matter; we'll get him later, release the mist." Hun ordered. Leo, Don and Mikey didn't notice the thick mist falling from the ceiling nor the Purple Dragons escaping out the doors.
From his vantage point; Raph scanned the building and kept a close eye on it. He took notice of some the Purple Dragons leaving with gas masks on and what appeared to be a mist leaking from the doors. Turtle luck had shown true to form and it indeed was a trap. "Leo should've listened ta me. I told him now I gotta save their sorry shells." He jumped down and ran towards the door. Meanwhile inside, the turtles choked on the falling mist. Scanning the room, they could barely make out more than just a shadow. Feeling around, they stumbled towards the door Just as it was pulled open by Raph. "Let's get out of here guys." Leo ordered. They stumbled out into the fresh air; each gasping for air. Raphael stood with his arms crossed staring at Leonardo. He had the 'I told you so' look on his face. "I don't want to hear it Raph."
"I was right, wasn't I? You put Donnie and Mikey in danger by not listening." He sternly said. Don glanced up at Raph. "Wait what?" He asked. "Yeah, I told Leo this felt like a trap and he didn't listen ta me; that's why I didn't come." Leo looked away and helped Mikey up. "For a change Raph was right about something." Leo thought. "Let's get home and hopefully that mist wasn't harmful." The brothers made their back down the sewer; Leo in front and Raph in the back.
"Ya think this is gonna last? Raphie boy is really mad at Leo this time." Mikey asked. "I don't know Mikey. If Raph tried telling Leo it was dangerous and he didn't listen; then it's on Leo this time." The two youngest brothers whispered back and forth. Leo faintly heard the conversation and immediately regretted not listening. "I could have put them in a lot of danger and we might still be in danger. I screwed up this time." He clenched his fists and refused to look at his brothers as thoughts tormented his mind. Once back in the lair; Leo headed straight for the dojo while Don went to his lab. "I'm gonna try to figure out what that mist was." With that; he disappeared into his lab. Raph went to his room while Mikey sat and played video games.
In the dojo, Leo practiced kata after kata; pushing himself as hard as he could. How could he have led his brothers into danger? "I should have known better. How can I be a better leader if I'm putting them in danger? I hate it when Raph is right at times. But this is my fault so I need to apologize and try to make things right. It's not fair for Donnie and Mikey to be involved in this." Leo continued to train until beads of sweat slid down his body. Grabbing a towel, he wiped himself off and left the dojo. Entering the living room; he went in search of his younger brother. Instead; he found Donatello at his computer and Michelangelo playing video games. He noticed Raphael's door still closed. "Hey Donnie, have you figured out what that stuff was yet?" He said as he strode over.
"Not yet but it does not appear harmful. I haven't felt any different and haven't noticed anything unusual. I'll keep testing it to make sure." Yet; what the brothers did not realize is that the mist is slowly taking control of their minds and soon chaos will ensue. "K I'm going to talk to Raph." Donnie glanced back at his older brother as he left. He only hoped there would not be another argument.
He gently knocked on the door. From inside, Raph grumbled as he got up to answer it. He had been trying to calm his mind but instinct told him something is very wrong in the lair. He only hoped he is wrong and turtle luck would not show true to form. Opening the door, he saw Leo on the other side. "Go away Fearless. I ain't in the mood for a lecture." He tried slamming the door shut but Leo pushed his foot in. "I'm not here to lecture you; I'm here to apologize. You were right and I should have listened."
"Damn straight I was right. Maybe if you didn't have yer head stuck up yer shell all the time; maybe you'd realize that just maybe I know what I'm talking about. I know those streets better than any of you and I know what to look for." Raph replied angrily. "You always think ya know what's best and sometimes it's not; especially when you put Donnie and Mikey in danger." Leo stood with his head down. He deserved the harsh statement from his younger brother; at least this time. "Look I'm sorry ok. What more do you want me to do? I messed up; you were right. It's not like you haven't been wrong before. You always jump into battles and make us chase you." Raphael growled. "I don't ask you to follow me. I do what I do to keep my family safe. If I can take out some of them before you get there, the less they have to deal with."
"If you weren't such a hot head then we wouldn't have to chase after you. You're irresponsible and selfish and that's why I'm the leader because I am better than you." He half shouted back. Raphael stood; his fists clenched. Leo waited for the strike but none came. "Yeah, you're right Oh Fearless Leader Leonardo. You are the better brother and turtle. So much for our apology, ya blew it. I was actually considering dropping it but ya had to go there; always make it about me even when you are in the wrong. You're one hell of brother Leo."