"Well done my sons." Splinter addressed four turtles standing in front of him, it was afternoon, and they had started some special advanced training in the technique of balance, which meant all the turtles had been forced to balance on tall bamboo sticks for the last half our, to their big annoyance, for ones Raphael wasn't in the lead at all, in fact he had failed most miserable, Leonardo on the other hand had prevailed, and surprisingly, Michelangelo had been a very close second in this excersie. "We will hold for today." Splinter stated.

The four turtles straightened up, all faced Splinter and then bowed respectfully to him, all though they weren't nearly done with the bow before they turned around and ran with a big yell, out of the dojo and towards the television, the comic books and the mechanical work shop.

April smiled as she sat down her hand-back, and brushed away a string of hair, she had just arrived a while ago, and was fully dressed in her sports clothes.

"ready for your lesson April?" Splinter asked.

"Aye Sensei." April smiled before silenced a little bit. "When do you think I'll be able to actually train with the turtles?" she asked.

"For some lessons, it'll hopefully be within the year." Splinter responded.

"Sweet." April smiled.

"When they go over basics again I mean." Splinter told. "Those must always be re-visited, even by me. You may always join us at warm up though."

"Aww." April hung her head.

"They are fifteen years in front of you, it's not because you don't lack natural skill." Splinter assured. "Donatello should be an excellent sparring partner for you before long."


Out in the lair the turtles of cause had decided to relax, Leonardo popping in space-heroes, Raphael kicking back with a comic book, what Donnie usually would do would be to dig down in his work-shop, it was his favourite pass time.

But suddenly this time, he was sitting absolutely still beside Leo on the couch, not even looking at the television screen, just looking incredible distant and sort of sad.

The captain in the show was in the middle of one of his usual speeches on the screen, talking two two alien races that had been fighting.

"No matter how you look, what race you are, if you are a man or woman, remember, inside we are all the same, and it's the inside that matters." The captain spoke proudly. "What you look like, it doesn't mean a thing it—"

The captain was cut off as the tv-set was turned off.

"HEY!" Leonardo shouted. "I was watching that."

Donatello murmured as he put down the remote. "You do realise most of the lessons in that show is tacky and pretentious right?" he asked.

Leonardo gaped. "You did not just say that!" he exclaimed.

"Hah." Raphael laughed from his own corner. "At last some-one just out-right says it!"

"Come on, it doesn't matter what you look like?" Donatello asked. "Then why are we hiding in the sewers?" he asked.

Leonardo blinked. "Where did that come from?" he asked.

"I don't know I just.." Donatello sighed. "I know what you guys say you know, I shouldn't be pining for April, and you are right! I'm just to different, a giant turtle." He muttered turning away.

"Some-thing happened?" Leonardo asked as he blinked.

"No, nothing at all happened." Donatello muttered as he raised up and finally walked to his work-shop. "That's the problem, I should just learn it, nothing ever will happen, I'm to different."

Raphael and Leonardo blinked as they looked at Donnie, then looked at each other. Raphael shrugged.

"You aren't worried at all?" Leonardo asked him a little annoyed.

"Njah, Donnie is right after-all." Raphael stated as he straightened his comic book a new. "We are that different! Stuck in a sewer and not even allowed to be seen, it only matters whom you are inside? Yeah right!" he snorted. "Can't even go out to make my own way." he muttered annoyed.

"That's not fair that's.." Leonardo exhaled deeply. "I'm going to put on another episode." He at last told, leaping of the couch, and bowed down, barely noticed the blue light that seemed to be slowly floating above him, then it floated towards Donatello where it summed above him for a while, seeming to grow, before it disappeared behind the couch Rapahel was sitting in.


"One thing I got to say." April smiled as she exited the dojo room. "This is great work-out! I'm starting to look good." She smiled.

"A healthy body and a healthy mind, that is the key." Splinter noted wisely as he exited after her, only to halt by the room of the down-beaten turtles.

April how-ever was all-ready on her way to Donnatello. "Hey Donnie, what are you doing?" she asked.

Splinter on the other hand, slowly walked towards Leo, and then sat beside him, for some moments they just sat there in silence, Leonardo hanging looking at the television set, Splinter sitting with straight back, also looking at the programme, before he broke the silence. "You seem troubled." He commented to Leo.

"We just ended up talking." Leonardo responded a little tired not removing his eyes from the TV-set.

"About what, may I ask?" Splinter asked finally turning his head to look at the turtle.

"Sensei." Leonardo took a deep breath before he also turned his head and looked at Splinter. "Us down here, we are so different." He exclaimed.

"Every-body is different Leonardo." Splinter replied. "That's how the world remains such an interesting place."

"That's not what I meant." Leonardo rolled his eyes. "Look at April, she can go to school, she can meet new people, she can go to clubs and restaurants if she wants to, you used to be able to do that! But we can't, because we are so different, we must hide, because people will fear us and attack us if we come out. It seems so unfair."

"It's not ideal no." Splinter at last admitted. "And I'm sorry I was never able to give you more than this, a normal life."

"It's not your fault sensei." Leonardo exhaled. "I guess for us a normal life was never really an option."

"No." Splinter admitted laying a hand on Leonardo's shoulder. "But that doesn't mean you can't have a good one." He then encouraged in a smile. "What do you think the point was with all of this?" he asked. "I want to give you all the chance to have the best life possible, though I couldn't give you a normal one, though that is some-thing to regret."

"I know Sensei." Leonardo sighed leaning back. "It just feels so.. Frustrating right now you know, I also want to have a walk in the park one day, I also want to go to an QnA like the internet videos, and I can't have it."

"Nobody can have every-thing." Splinter exhaled removing his hand from Leonardos shoulder. "There's things I wished dearly I could have as well, but that is not how life works, you just have to make the best of what you have right now."

"Yo." Suddenly Michelangelo's voice sounded from right behind them. "What on earth is that?"

Splinter looked up with Leonardo, and suddenly saw a blue light right in front of them, Splinter frowned.

"What the?" Raphael exclaimed.

"Hold back." Splinter stopped Leonardo from moving. "Don't get closer to it!"

"It looks like its growing!" Donatello commented. "Could be some sort of energy source, but where did it come from? And why does it keep growing?" he asked.

"I really don't know." April responded.

Wide-eyed Splinter looked at the source, which just kept growing and growing. "Get back!" he then shouted. "My sons, get back!" he stated pulling Leonardo with him backwards so they stood along-side Michelangelo.

"But.." Mikey suddenly stated. "It's so pretty and warm.. and hear.. music." He smiled a little gladly. "Cool music."

"It's not music!" Donatello then snorted. "It's people! Lots of people talking!" he stated. "Sounds important."

"They talk about space-heroes!" Leonardo realised.

"Erh, no they don't." Donatello stated. "They are having brilliant scientific discussions."

"Shh." Splinter hushed them as he closed his eyes. "Yes, there are some kind of voice." He admitted. "If I could just.. make them out." He frowned, as the light grew bigger and bigger, it grew absolutely massive, and so did the distant voices, until at last every-thing was light, and Splinter couldn't even see, he just… he just.

"Sensei."

Hamato Yoshi opened his eyes, and then blinked, some-how he had fallen a sleep while standing up, he looked in front of him, looked at his students whom looked questionable at him.

The twelve ten year old human children who made out his class, some-thing itched his mind by the number twelve and the fact they were humans.

"Sensei are you all-right?" A little girl with her blond hair in pig-tales asked.

"Yes I'm." Hamato scratched his hair. "I don't know what happened." He admitted and looked at his hand, which was a very normal hand, and nothing odd about it. "Where were we?" he asked.

"You were, talking about kicks." A brown-haired boy carefully tried.

"Ah yes, a prober kick." Hamato suddenly remembered. "like with the fist, it's all in the footing, but this time also in how to move your entire body so you are in constant balance." He told as he lowered his knees standing in correct position. "Remember to feel the ground beneath you, and the air around you." He instructed. The children did as he did, to perfection.. too good perfection. Hamato frowned as he walked among them, not one food was out of place, no shoulder to high or low among then young kids, some-how it felt wrong.

"Urh.. very good." He frowned. "Now.. try a kick." He asked, and all the kids did a kick.. all perfect kicks done in perfect unison. Hamato blinked. "Well that was.. very good, it's rare any-one gets it right the first time around I mean, my own sons even." He blinked, where did that come from? No, he had a son, but just the one, and a daughter. A son and a daughter, Miwa and.. Hamato shook his head.

"Sensei, are you all-right?" The same blond girl asked again.

"Yes I.." Hamato swallowed. "Why don't we have a break?" he asked. "Take five minutes and some water." He instructed. "I'll just need to." He fumbled towards the rice-paper door and managed to open it as he stepped to the other side and then exhaled. "What's wrong with me?" he asked drawing a hand to his head, then he turned to the left, to the mirror on the wall and critically looked at himself.

He looked fine enough, his yellow skin healthy, his black eyes clear, his black hair neat and combed, the rest of him was wearing a white nin-jutsu suite with a black belt, a thing very traditionally used for training. "Why does this feel so wrong then?" he asked looking down at himself. "Every-things perfect! I.."

"Darling are you all-right?"

Hamato spoon around and wide-eyed looked at the woman whom now stood in front of him, a beautiful beautiful japaneese woman, with long black hair, caring eyes that now looked at him with worry.

"Teng-Shen." Hamato barely got over his lips. "What? How?" he asked.

"Hamato what's wrong?" Teng-shen asked in a now worried voice. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I.." Hamato began but then blinked. "I don't know." He finally told his wife. "I guess I'm just feeling a little strange today." He told. "Maybe it's the heat." He suggested looking up, and out of the window, where out-side, true enough the sky was blue and the sun was shining bright.

"It has been awfully hot lately." Teng-shen replied. "Do remember to drink water dear." She asked of him. "And plenty of tea."

Hamato shook his head as he smiled vaguely. "I always do that." He assured. "You know that. Never become dehydrated, that's just dumb. Teng-Shen I." he spoke to her, then halted having no idea what he was going to say, or why he should be saying it. "I better get back to my class." He at last told, and turned around to open the slide-door, only to be faced with a class whom all stood perfectly still in perfect stands looking at the entrance waiting for him.

No one sitting in the corner taking a breather, no one sipping from a water bottle, no one chatting away and no one having a tumble on the floor.. this was not how kids behaved.. Not at all, some-thing was wrong! Hamato frowned as he slowly walked down. "Defence." He barged, and all kids did it, in unison and in perfection. "Launch." He stated, and ones again they did the same. "Kick." He asked and they all did. "Uku nuki mayi!" he shouted and all the kids did so, he witnessed all of them perform the highly advanced collection of moves to the utter most perfection, some-thing that should take years to learn from some-one whom all-ready knew the basics, some-thing only a person whom had trained for over a decade could archive, and since these kids were only ten years old, that was an utter impossibility, Splinter nodded shortly as he walked around them. "Pair up two and two." He then demanded. "Practise block and kick, I'll be back in five." He stated and walked back out the slide door, only to be faced with Teng-shen, ones again, she hadn't even seemed like she had gone that far, Hamato frowned, she didn't even seemed all that surprised about him walking in and out of the dojo so quickly.

"Some-thing the matter dear?" Teng-shen asked.

Hamato looked at her in a frown. "Teng-shen.." he tried. "Is some-thing about today.. off to you.. by any chance?" he asked.

"What-ever do you mean?" Teng-shen asked.

"Do you know where Miwa is?" Hamato asked.

"In school dear, where else would she be?" Teng-shen asked. "I believe she would be out in a study group after hours."

"And my son?" Splinter asked. "Where's my son, where's.." he halted as he blinked.

"Don't you remember dear?" Teng-shen asked. "This was supposed to be such a big day for him, he's done nothing be preparing for it for months."

"And the rest?" Hamato asked.

Teng-shen blinked. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"My sons." Hamato asked. "All four of them, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello, where are they?" he asked.

"Hamato dear.." Teng-shen frowned. "You only have one son."

"No, I'm quite sure I have four." Hamato stated. "And I want to know where they are." He stated advancing on Teng-shen.

"Hamato.. what? You look, what's wrong with you?" Teng-Shen asked stepping back. "You're scarring me."

"You're not supposed to be here." Hamato barely whispered.

"What.. what do you mean?" Teng-Shen asked sounding frightening.

"Teng-Shen you died!" Hamato exclaimed. "In a raging fire, I saw it with my own two eyes!" he yelled.

"WHAT ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT?" Teng-Shen asked in a frightening voice.

"Seeing some-one you love die, that is not some-thing you forget!" Hamato sneered and then a fist flew forward, ramming into the wall just behind Teng-Shens shoulder. "Who are you?" he yelled into the womans face. "Where's my sons? Why aren't I mutated any-more? what is this place?" he asked.

"YOU'VE GONE INSANE!" Teng-shen cried as she fell to the floor, tears streaming down her eyes. "Hamato please I beg of you! You are my husband, you own this dojo and earn a living giving out classes, we are raising two such beautiful children, what's wrong with that? It's perfect!" she stated.

"Perfect." Hamato blinked. "It is perfect." He realised. "To perfect, way to perfect, my perfect life." He realised. "Oroku Saki, does that name say any-thing to you?"

"I'v never heard it." Teng-shen cried.

"The Shredder then?" Hamato asked. "The Krang, Dogpound, mutants walking around town, as half human half animals."

"That's all insane talk!" Teng-shen cried. "Hamato please!" she lunged for him. "Listen to yourself, listen to reason! You are mad-talking, it sounds like some-thing a mad man would make up in his sleep! We have it good here, our family." she stated as she helt close to his leg.

"It isn't real!" Hamato hissed. "Let go of me!" he asked getting her hands away from his leg. "You are not Teng-shen! So don't disgrace her image!" he sneered and the woman frightened jumped away, and Hamato turned around to walk out of the door, the door that went all aside.

"Hamato where are you going?" Teng-shen called after him.

"I'm going to find my sons!" Hamato stated in almost a sneer.

"What about your class?" Teng-shen asked.

"Some-thing tells me they are as real as you are." Hamato stated darkly. "Which means they are not real at all, so excuse me while I go out and find out what is real."