Disclaimer: TMNT Belongs to those who own it. I am not making any money off this story.
Authors Note: Previously released under the name Some Things Change. My Apologies to those who were watching that story. I wrote this version right after the first one. And I debated putting it up for a week. I finally decided this version is going more in the line that I wanted. Hope you enjoy it as well. And for those that enjoyed the tickling Mikey scene, I will be re-adding it.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

A Wish Made...A Wish Granted?

Raphael closed his eyes and leaned back against the slope of the roof. Sighing softly he pondered the last few hours again. There had been the fight with Leo. But since when was that new? They always fought. No matter what.
Why? Why must I always feel the need to provoke him? Why does it always seem to come down to knock-down-drag-out fights? Could he even remember a time when they weren't fighting?

Raph sighed again as he realized the answer to the last question was yes. He leaned back letting memories of long past times drift through his mind. He could see two little turtles dashing hurriedly and silently through the sewers, trying desperately to beat their sensei home, after having ignored their brothers warnings to not go out and explore while splinter was gone. He watched as the two boys played, laughed and pulled pranks together. They had been best friends back then, inseparable. What had changed?

He opened his eyes and his gaze was caught by one especially bright star. His eyes widened further when the star suddenly shot across the sky. Not pausing to think he began to speak softly. I wish it was like old times. I wish I was no longer angry at everything and everyone. I wish I had my best friend back.

He flinched as the star suddenly froze in mid-streak, then it flared brilliantly. A voice, soft and so quiet he wasn't entirely sure he heard it, whispered in a silvery tone.
"A wish made...A Wish that can only be granted by yourself."

Stunned, Raph could only stammer out a few words. "H-how? I d-don't know how"

"Think back to when your feelings towards your brother changed...Decide If you still blame him...Or if you just blame yourself and take it out on everything around you."..There was a sudden flare, then the star was simply gone.

Jerking back to reality, Raph had to wonder if he had been dreaming. Shaking his head wearily, he made his way down from the roof and back into the sewers. As he silently entered the lair he listened for the normal sounds of his brothers and sensei sleeping soundly. Quickly hearing them, he made his way to his own room. Sliding onto the bed he quietly slipped into a meditative pose. Something he had not done in ages. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, Letting old memories fill him once again.

He once again saw himself and his brothers training happily, then Splinter came in and told them to kneel before him. As they did he went on to tell them he had made the decision to make Leonardo leader. Being the eldest, Leo was the best choice. As he watched this, Ralph realized that was when it had begun to change. Leo had drifted apart as the duties of being leader had started to take affect. Raphael had resented having to listen to his best friend order him about, criticize everything he did. So he had rebelled. And it had escalated to complete hatred. As he watched his memories play out, the fights between them had become even worse. He felt horrible. Raph slowly slid out of the pose and down onto his bed. Curling up he did something he hadn't done in an even longer time. He cried.

An hour later his door slid silently open as Splinter gazed in to check on his son. What greeted the old rat had his eyes widening in disbelief. His son was there, curled in a ball that he hadn't been seen in since he was a baby turtle. There were tear stains on his cheeks. Worried, Splinter took a step closer to wake his son up. He stopped suddenly as he saw the soft, happy smile on his face. It had been a long time since he had seen his usually hotheaded son so relaxed. Backing out he quietly shut the door and made his way to his own room.

Raph woke up with a start a few hours later. Swinging out of bed he glanced at the clock. 4am. His brothers wouldn't be up for another hour. Yet he couldn't go back to sleep. As he stopped suddenly releasing what had happened last night. Frowning slightly he tried to tell himself to stop being silly. Standing very still he searched for the red hot anger that was always there waiting to be let go. It was gone. His gaze widening suddenly at the strange feeling inside him, he left his room and made a beeline for the training dojo.

Splinter eyed his son warily as he entered. Raph almost never got up on time, yet here he was an hour early? He watched as Raph first stretched, then moved into the exercises. "Morning, My son"

Raph jumped in mid kick."Oh hi sensei, didn't see you there"

"You are up early this morning," The rat watched as his son moved through the vigorous exercises with an almost ease.

"Couldn't go back to sleep so I thought I'd get a head start"

"Is something troubling you, my son?"

Raph stopped and grinned at his sensei."Not anymore, Master Splinter." He turned as his other brothers strode into the room.

Greeting Don warmly, he tackled Mikey, and proceeded to give him a noogie. Mikey squealed and darted back."Man someone woke up in a good mood"

Raph grinned and made a swat at his younger brother before turning towards Leo. The cold glare his elder brother was giving him made his smile waver and slide off. "Leo, about last night, Im sorry"

Leo ignored him and moved to the side of the room and began moving through his warmup exercises. There was a coldness in the graceful way that he moved.

"Leo..." Raphs voice dropped as his brother once again totally ignored him. Normally Leos attitude would have him seeing red by now. But all he felt was sadness. Turning he made to leave the dojo.

"Where do you think your going? Trainings just begun" Leos usually warm voice dripped with ice.

Raph whirled on his brother, opening his mouth to snap something when Splinters walking stick thudded hard against the floor.

"Raphael has been training for nearly an hour, he has permission to leave." The rat watched in concern as Raphs shoulders sagged slightly and then he was out the door and gone. Turning his gaze back to his other sons, he saw Don and Mikey exchanging worried looks. Leo however was still stiffly and coldly moving through the exercises. Unsure how to handle what had happened, He remained quiet. For now.

Unable to go up to the street as it was day, Raph wondered a ways from the lair and leapt to sit quietly on a ledge. He knew he deserved Leos silence. But it was unnerving. Leo had never completely ignored him like that before. He jumped as his shell cell rang, nearly falling off the ledge. It was Casey. No doubt calling to see when and where he would meet him tonight to make their rounds. He flipped it open.

"Raph here"

"Heyas Raph, its Casey" He rolled his eyes, course it was Casey. "Hey man, Im not going to be going out tonight,"

There was a stunned silence from Caseys end. " There are a few things I need to straighten out here"

Caseys face nodded on the cells screen."Call me when your ready to go at it again" His face vanished and the shell cell went quiet.

But how was he going to straighten it out if Leo wouldn't even talk to him?