My name is Leonardo. As a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, I've seen a lot of strange things: interdimensional martial arts tournaments, time sceptres, and alien worlds. You'd think I'd be used to this by now, but nothing could have prepared me for what was in store for us...

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
LANTERN'S LIGHT
PART ONE

Chronological note: This story takes place somewhere between the TMNT 2003 episodes "The Christmas Aliens" and "Bishop's Gambit", and between 'Brightest Day' and 'War of the Green Lanterns' in the DC Universe.

Legal note: All Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters and concepts are © Nickelodeon. All Green Lantern characters and concepts are © DC Comics. All Usagi Yojimbo characters and concepts are © Stan Sakai. I own nothing (I doubt I'm even the first to think of the idea, just the first to do it like this!).

The people of New York were a resilient bunch. They'd weathered an invasion from alien Triceratons searching for a robot that wasn't even there (or was it? The conspiracy theorists had a field day with that one), and there were always reports of strange green men being seen around town from time to time. On the whole, when peculiar things happened, New Yorkers tended to stand up to them as best they could, then got on with their lives.

If those jaded New Yorkers knew that, high above their alien-ravaged city, something extraordinary was happening, they might have been somewhat less jaded.

A shimmering hole opened up in the sky, no bigger than a coffee can, and seven small glowing objects flew through it, each a different colour of the rainbow. The glowing objects paused for a moment, as if thinking about what they would do next, then separated. Two flew off into the distance, and five made a beeline for the ground.

The five glows shot straight down, and slipped through a grate into the sewer. The glows shot down a narrow pipe before emerging into a larger chamber, startling the colony of rats making a nest there, and sending them diving for cover. The glows continued on, heedless of the scurrying rodents, following a path known only to them until they came to a brick wall. The glows paused momentarily, as if deciding their next move, then headed for a tiny crack in the brickwork. One by one, they squeezed through a space seemingly too small for them, undaunted.

Leonardo gripped his katana tightly, his eyes flicking back and forth to catch any sign of his foe. He knew the attack could come any time, and from anywhere.

He was right.

A silver streak flew from the shadows, heading straight for Leonardo. He whirled, dodging the thrown sai, and deflected the sai's twin with his sword.

With a martial cry, Raphael hurled himself from his hiding place, launching a furious kick at Leonardo's head. Leonardo again dodged his brother's attack, and countered with an elbow to Raphael's shell. Raphael hit the floor face first, sliding a few metres before coming to rest near the edge of the makeshift dojo.

Leonardo couldn't resist gloating. "That was sloppy, Raph. I saw those attacks coming a mile away. The whole point of being a ninja is to be silent and unexpected."

Raphael rolled over to glare at his brother. "I got yer unexpected right here!"

His legs whipped out, catching Leonardo's ankles and sending the blue-masked turtle crashing down next to Raphael.

From his comfortable vantage point on the couch playing video games, Michelangelo couldn't help himself. He chuckled at his brothers.

"So much for that, huh, Leo? You got owned, bro!"

"Michelangelo!"

Michelangelo cringed. "Yes, Master Splinter?"

The wizened old rat stepped forward from his private chambers, looking as resplendent as a five-foot-tall rat in a tattered kimono leaning on a gnarled old stick could.

"Instead of criticising your brothers' techniques, perhaps you should be concentrating on honing your own."

Michelangelo's face split into a wide grin. "But I have been, Sensei! I'm up to my highest score ever on Mega-Mutant Motor Racing!"

Splinter's eyes narrowed sternly. "I meant your ninjitsu skills, my son."

"Aww, Master, do I have to?" Michelangelo whined. "I mean, I am..."

Raphael rolled his eyes. "Here we go..."

Michelangelo continued undaunted. "Battle Nexus Champion!" he crowed, striking a dramatic pose. His glory was spoiled a moment later by a pillow being thrown in his face by an unimpressed Raphael.

"How long are you gonna keep milkin' that, Mikey?" he griped. "We all know ya only won by fluke!"

"Details, details!" Michelangelo made a dismissive motion with his three-fingered hand. "You just can't stand that I'm a better ninja than you!"

Raphael's eyes flashed with anger. He dove at his smug brother, crash-tackling him to the ground. As the two turtles rolled around, Donatello finally poked his head out from under the Battle Shell, where he had been doing some long-overdue maintenance.

"Guys, watch out for the..."

But it was too late. Raphael and Michelangelo's roughhousing finally reached the bank of monitors. Raphael drove Michelangelo's shell into the base of the monitor bank, causing the whole thing to wobble dangerously.

Donatello gasped, as if something precious was in mortal danger (and to him, it was). He slid out from under the Battle Shell and hurled himself towards the monitor bank. Michelangelo shrieked in terror and concern, for he knew if the monitors fell, that was the end of his video games and cartoons for however long it took Donatello to replace them, and that was simply unacceptable.

Just as the monitor bank started to topple, Donatello stretched out, desperately trying to save the precious televisions. His bo staff wedged under the cabinet, preventing the whole thing from coming down.

Both Michelangelo and Donatello breathed a sigh of relief. Splinter eyed the whole scene with unsympathetic displeasure.

"Michelangelo, Raphael – your foolish behaviour has nearly cost us the televisions. Not only would it be difficult for Donatello to replace; if I were not able to catch up on my soap operas, I would be most disappointed."

The brothers hung their head in shame."Sorry, Master Splinter," they said in unison, the line honed through much practise over the years.

Splinter nodded once. "You seem to have far too much energy. Perhaps it would be best if you went out on patrol and wear yourselves out."

Michelangelo broke into a grin again. "Whoo-hoo! Surface time!"

Leonardo looked up from polishing his katana. "Remember, Mikey, we're not there to party. We're there to patrol the streets, and see if the Foot or the Purple Dragons are up to no good."

"Since when are they not?" Donatello quipped, easing the monitor bank back into place.

Before the Turtles could gather their weapons to leave, five glowing objects shot through a crack in the wall. The glows buzzed around like flies at a barbeque before separating and setting their sights on each of the Turtles and Splinter. The astonished mutants jerked back in surprise as each of the glows revealed themselves to be a ring.

The green ring made a beeline for Leonardo, and a deep voice intoned, "Leonardo of Earth, you have the ability to overcome great fear. Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps."

Leonardo looked surprised for a moment, then his expression turned into one of absolute resolve.

The blue ring slipped over Donatello's finger, and a calm voice said, "Donatello of Earth, you have the ability to instil great hope. Welcome to the Blue Lantern Corps."

Donatello's eyes flashed with a soothing blue light, and his face took on a serene expression.

The red ring shoved itself onto Raphael's finger, and a voice with barely-contained fury growled, "Raphael of Earth, you have great rage in your heart. You belong to the Red Lantern Corps."

Raphael let out a low snarl, and promptly vomited up what looked like blood.

The indigo ring made its way to Michelangelo, and a voice that could only be described as 'understanding' spoke: "Michelangelo of Earth, you are capable of great compassion. Welcome to the Indigo Tribe."
Michelangelo, for his part, stared in wonder at nothing in particular. "Nok..." he said dreamily.

The violet ring settled on Splinter's long, bony finger, and a female voice said to him, "Hamato Splinter of Earth, you have great love in your heart. Welcome to the Star Sapphires."

Splinter felt an intense love well up within him; love for all creatures, not just his adopted sons.

Leonardo did what he always did when something unusual happened – he turned to Donatello.

"Don, do you have any idea what these things are?"

Donatello shook his head. "Not a clue, Leo. They seem to have some sort of artificial intelligence – after all, they did seem to each choose one of us for some reason. Fascinating..."

Raphael scoffed. "Oh, that's just great. We got Invasion of the Killer Jewellery here, and Donny's playin' Mister Spock!"

With that, he vomited up another mouthful of blood. Michelangelo looked on, his brow furrowed with concern.

"You okay, Raphie? You don't look so good."

Raphael tried to snap back some withering retort, but couldn't get it out around the blood that surged from his mouth.

Michelangelo turned to his brothers and Splinter in alarm. "Raph's in trouble, guys! We gotta help him!"

Donatello looked thoughtful for a moment. "I think I can do something. Don't ask me how I know, but I think..."

The purple-masked turtle approached his brother, who was doubled over and spewing out his life's blood. The blue ring on Donatello's finger began to glow, brighter and brighter, and Raphael's furious expression slowly, but surely, calmed into his more usual sneer.

Donatello turned back to his brothers. "I think that red ring's taken over the functions of his heart, and it's been expelling his blood as a result. My ring seems to be able to calm him down, stop him getting too angry."

Leonardo turned to his sensei. "Master Splinter, why do you think these rings chose us? I mean, it just seems so...random."

Splinter shook his head gently. "Not so, my son. The rings said they chose each of us for a reason. Your will has been the driving force of your brothers, urging them and encouraging them to better themselves. The green ring has chosen you because of your willpower.

"Donatello was chosen by the blue ring because all of you put so much faith in him for devices to aid you in your battles. His technical and tactical skills inspire much hope in you all.

"Raphael...always have you struggled with your own inner demons. Your anger fuels you, but it has been a serious stumbling block for you. I fear this red ring will either finally allow you to conquer your rage, or it will consume you.

"Michelangelo, though you act the fool far too frequently, you have more compassion than either you or your brothers realise..."

Raphael wiped blood from his mouth, and sneered. "Aw, come on, Master Splinter – the only things on Mikey's mind are pizza and video games! He only got the compassion ring 'cuz there's probably no 'bonehead' ring!"

Splinter sighed, shaking his head. "No, Raphael. Think of last Christmas Eve – Michelangelo not only took in a homeless cat," he nodded at Klunk, who was watching all this with the kind of curiosity only a cat could muster, "but he ensured those toys for the orphans reached their intended destinations. Michelangelo taught us all much about concern for others that night."

Leonardo nodded, understanding. "And you've always been like a father to us, Sensei. No natural father could have loved us better than you."

Splinter nodded modestly. "Indeed. The true question is, what is the true nature of these rings?"

Donatello pulled his shell-cell from a pouch on his belt. "Maybe April can help us figure it out."