Author's Note: Whew, now this chapter is much longer than the first one. Now when I said this chapter's going to be dark, I mean it's going to be dark. I also want to emphasize that I'm not trying to make Donnie or April out of character in this story because, like I said, Donnie deserves to be frustrated at April when needed, and April is addicted to the crystal and in denial of it. You also know that a certain someone is planting lies in April's head to keep her attached to the crystal. Now you might want to get your tissues ready...'cause here we go.

I want to give special thanks to kamechan98 and CJtheStoryteller for their input on this and other story ideas, as well as everyone who's reviewed so far! Be sure to read and review!

Chapter 2: Breaking Point

April opened her eyes and found herself in a fog. Peering through the fog granted her nothing but a dark void. Looking down, she found herself in her everyday clothes instead of her yellow space suit. The crystal she had just been gifted by the Aeons-a fragment of something called the Soul Star-rested delicately above her breasts from the makeshift necklace Fugitoid made. Still, she couldn't figure out what this place was or why she was here. Was this a dream? Was it a psychic vision? Wherever she was…she didn't feel alone.

"April O'Neil."

April jumped at the deep, resonating voice. There was no sight of another person in this fog, so where did the voice come from? "…Who's there?"

Silence. April suddenly decided she imagined the voice, choosing to resume searching for a way out of the darkness. As she turned, she found herself stopped by a disembodied pair of glowing blue eyes. No body, not even an outline or silhouette, which frightened her even more. The redhead opened her mouth to scream, but found some unseen force halting her. She could almost feel something holding up a hand in peace, yet it remained unseen. So far, whatever this thing was, it didn't mean harm.

"Do not be afraid, April O'Neil." The voice spoke gently. "I am a friend to you."

"A friend?" April repeated cautiously. Glancing around nervously for a split-second, she instead decided to ask, "Where are we?"

"This is your subconscious." The voice replied without pause. "You are asleep aboard the ship. You are the one that saved the Aeons. I could feel your conviction to save our planet, even at the detriment of your own. I thank you for preserving future generations of Aeons."

April averted her eyes in a sheepish manner, mumbling a thank you to the unseen voice. Apparently, this was an Aeon, but what was it doing in her subconscious? But was it really an Aeon? What if it was some sort of Aeon god speaking to her? Did it come just to thank her for what happened? She didn't know whether to trust the word of some disembodied voice and eyes or not, but it couldn't be evil, could it? Not like the corrupted Aeons they encountered before unleashing the Soul Star.

"The Aeons have given you a powerful crystal; a very piece of the Soul Star." The voice spoke plainly. "It can be more than just a token of good fortune. Why not use it to hone your extraordinary gifts?"

April's eyes widened. "It can do that?"

She could almost feel the presence nod. "Yes. The crystal can grant you immeasurable power. It can give you the strength needed to save your home…to better yourself as a warrior." There was suddenly a pause, and the voice added, "You are special, April O'Neil. You have earned a place among the stars. Use the crystal to reach it, and become what you've always wanted to be."

"Whoa, really?" April grew excited at the prospect of becoming stronger. She still felt miles behind the guys, especially without Splinter's guidance, but if the crystal could give her what she needed, she'd be okay. She could use it to hone her Kraang-based abilities and finally have the control she wanted over them. "T-Thank you! But…how do I use it? I really don't know how to tap into it."

"Don't worry…I will help you. Just listen, and I will teach you to use the crystal."

April's eyes fluttered open to stare at the familiar ceiling of her room. No white walls and ceiling of a space ship. Whether or not what just happened was a dream or a memory from space, she couldn't say. She still remembered that voice speaking to her just hours after leaving Xaava-Dal, and the guys knew nothing about it. If she told them that she heard a voice coming from the crystal, they'd think she was crazy. Perhaps that's why she wasn't so surprised to see the blue spectral mass coming from the crystal when Donnie tested it.

He could've broken the crystal with his careless testing. A sweep of the hand from his frequent naps on his desk could've shattered it like glass. Electrical shocks from his space staff could've made it explode. She knew he'd ask for it again because he now had it in his head that she started becoming 'addicted' to it.

'If he asks for it again, remind him of how much of a fool he is. Don't let him strip you of your power.'

Without saying a word, April tucked the crystal behind the collar of her pajamas and readied herself to go to the lair.

Splinter glanced into the lab and found Donatello going over notes on his computer once again. The rat sighed, noticing the bags visible through his mask and the way his shoulders slumped in fatigue. He knew what the notes concerned…April. Since that night his son not-so-subtly told April to leave, he found him going over his notes without sleep, obsessively trying to figure out a solution. While Donatello's heart was always in the right place, it was also his biggest flaw.

If his second-youngest son wanted desperately to find a solution to a difficult problem, he wouldn't stop until he found said solution. Even if it meant driving himself into the ground. Looking for a cure for that Timothy boy made him go a week without sleep. Then Kirby O'Neil's mutation…then Karai's mutation…and now April's growing addiction to the alien stone. Donatello wouldn't stop until he found a way to change April back into the confident, energetic, and kind person she is. Not the angry, insecure, and paranoid being she started to become.

If only his son knew this wasn't his crusade to bear alone.

"Donatello."

Donnie immediately snorted himself awake at Master Splinter's call. Was he about to doze off again? He couldn't rest until he got an idea concerning April! His auburn eyes glided over to the clock in the lab and his face paled, something his father noticed. When he last checked the clock, it was 5:30 PM. It now read 10:45 AM…he went without sleep again. Hoping his father wouldn't realize it was over April again, he quickly exited out of his notes and attempted to look refreshed. Unfortunately for him, even his mask couldn't disguise his fatigue.

"S-Sensei!" Donnie greeted hastily, forcing a grin on his face and straightening himself in his chair. "I-I was just getting ready to go and fix breakfast-"

"You have gone without sleep again, my son." Splinter furrowed his brows, not impressed with the way his son pretended to act innocent in this matter. "I assume you were fretting over April's personality changes?"

The grin on Donnie's face melted and his shoulders slumped in defeat. It should've dawned on him by now that his efforts to hide his lack of self-care would always fail in the eyes of his observant father. Splinter and even Mikey were the ones to first address the volatile changes in April's behavior concerning the crystal, and Donnie admitted to himself that he was in denial at first because…well, because he loved her. He didn't want to believe that she could be turning into a different person. Yet his father and younger brother were willing to speak the truth, and he had to bring himself to accept it as well.

"…I'm honestly at the end of my rope, Sensei." Donnie admitted, looking down and twiddling his thumbs in his lap. "I can fix machines and mutations and minor illnesses…but I can't fix people. April's not some machine I can just fix with a few tools or a disease I can just give medicine to. I've…" A sigh, and he bitterly admitted, "I don't know how to solve addiction, Sensei. I don't know how to break her from that crystal without her hating me the rest of our lives."

As he always did, Splinter stroked his long beard in deep thought. "I know you are struggling for an answer, my son. April does not want to admit that she is putting too much priority in an object. I know you want to help her…" He leaned on his cane, and his serious expression melded into a somber one, looking at his son with utmost sympathy. "…But April must choose to want help. She will either give up the crystal on her own, or she will stay in denial of her addiction."

"But what if I don't say anything? What if she reaches the point of no return?" Donnie asked, a hint of panic in his voice.

Splinter quickly replied, "Donatello, sometimes one must reach their lowest point to realize they need help. I hope as well it doesn't come to that point…but we may have to let April hit rock bottom."

Donnie wanted to protest. He didn't want April to hit rock bottom, though he knew she would have to realize she had a problem to accept help. As he opened his mouth to argue, his father halted him.

"However, I do advise you to be careful, my son." Splinter warned. "Her addiction to the alien stone is obvious…but I also sense a darkness slowly choking her spirit. It is causing not just her mind to be volatile…it is also affecting her powers."

Donnie had to pause and digest his father's words. He recalled when April swiped the crystal from his lab and used it to kill that eyeball monster. She used her powers to slice through its head with her tessen, a look of cold determination on her face. When she used her powers to attempt to crush Shinigami and impale her with glass, the look of murderous intent on her face. What would she do next? Use her powers on them if they said something to offend her?

"Whatever the case, we must have faith that April can overcome this. Now come, my son." The rat leaned on his jade cane once again and started out of the lab. "Let us meditate and clear our minds."

Donnie usually didn't turn to meditation to clear his mind, but he was willing to try anything if it meant finding a way to help April. As he trailed behind his father towards the dojo, he saw her. He saw April entering the lair, eyes darting around at everyone present and a face contorted in barely-controlled irritation. The other turtles and the visiting Casey suddenly stopped their rounds of arcade games to look at the kunoichi walking through like a ticking time bomb. Donnie could see the crystal carefully tucked away inside her jacket, a sign of her growing paranoia over its safekeeping. The hardened expression on her face also told him she was still mad over the Wingnut and Screwloose incident…three days ago.

"Uh…hey, Red." Casey greeted apprehensively, throwing up a calloused hand.

"Casey." April greeted, not even sparing him a glance, and kept on to the dojo.

"April." Splinter greeted sternly, eyes narrowed at the girl's sour attitude. "We are not training right now. Perhaps you would like to join Donatello and myself in meditation to clear your thoughts."

April bit back, "I'm fine. I'd rather practice with my tanto against you, Sensei. What's the point of having a weapon if you can't use it on somebody?"

Everyone looked shocked at April's desire to fight Master Splinter…or rather, her desire to inflict harm on someone. Sure, in the beginning, they knew learning ninjitsu brought her excitement at the thought of 'kicking butt', but she didn't want to learn it just to harm someone for no reason. She was definitely not acting like their April, and it grew worse with each day. Donnie grew antsy and wanted to just grab her and shake her, but he remained frozen by Splinter's side. He still feared what she would do if pushed over the edge.

"Save your itchy trigger finger for tonight." Raph stated, unimpressed by April's tough act. "We're goin' out on patrol."

"Good. I'm in the mood to put some hurt on somebody. But…" She turned to Raph and flashed a devilish smirk; a small sliver of hope that their April remained. "That doesn't mean we still can't warm up. Ready to get your butt whipped?"

Raph smirked back and replied, "As if! You're still behind us, sister. What makes you think you can actually get me with more than a lucky punch?"

The redhead's face suddenly darkened again, and she asked in a bitter tone, "What's the matter, Raph? Afraid you'll be taken down by a wannabe kunoichi? Or should I count the times your overconfidence let Leo beat you?"

The red-banded turtle frowned and muttered, "I was just jokin' around. Don't get your panties in a bunch."

"Back off, April." Leo ordered. "Or you're off patrol."

April opened her mouth to say something to him, but a look from Donnie made her choose to press her lips in a thin line. Without saying another word, she simply stalked off towards the dojo, leaving everyone else to grow anxious about training with her. What would patrol be like if she acted this way about training? It was only when she was in the dojo and out of sight that the others decided to speak.

"She's gettin' meaner, that's for sure…" Casey mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Dude, you know it's that crystal. She acts like she can't live without it." Mikey hissed back while he eyed the dojo with caution. "I wish those Aeon dudes never gave it to her."

Leo cut in, "Well, you know how the Aeons got corrupted by the Black Hole Generator piece? What if the crystal started out pure, but…but April's corrupting it?" He looked over to Donnie and asked, "…What do you think?"

Donnie paused, putting his fingers to his chin, and replied, "Well, it is a possibility. The generator piece was foreign to the Aeons, and it corrupted them. So, technically, we can say April is foreign to the crystal and could very well be corrupting it. Maybe from being in a foreign atmosphere, or her Kraang DNA, or a combination of factors…"

While everyone discussed the possibilities of the crystal, they were unaware of April standing at the dojo door. They didn't see when she gritted her teeth and placed a strangling hold around her precious crystal.

Nighttime finally came after several tense hours in the lair. After having to hear April go into 'rage mode', as Mikey called it, and be ultra-protective of the Aeon crystal, being able to go out soothed everyone's nerves ever so slightly. What made it better was that they didn't have to be in close proximity of her or her bad attitude. Patrol wasn't just about finding bad guys to fight; sometimes it was just about having fun and getting fresh air. The April they knew would be excited about a mission just for the opportunity of running free and forgetting their troubles. Yet April kept going with that same look of cold determination hiding barely-contained anger.

"Leo, do you think we should've made April stay behind?" Raph asked as his green eyes locked onto the silent redhead in the distance. "She keeps actin' like everyone's out to get 'er. I say we call patrol off."

"Let's just see how it goes, Raph." Leo insisted, watching the others stop on a neighboring building in his peripheral vision before joining his brother in watching April. "If it gets bad enough, we call it off early and talk to her. Maybe she'll be better tonight."

With a sigh, Raph replied, "…I hope you're right."

Donnie, meanwhile, trailed at healthy distance behind April, observing her movements and watching for any more changes. Anything at all that would tell him the crystal was an absolute danger to the others or April; more than it already was. So far, April said nothing to anyone and kept her distance…almost as if she feared they would steal that crystal. He wouldn't take it unless he absolutely had to. April would see it as him being mean, but she'd thank him in the long-run. But if it came down to it, how would he get close enough to get it without being psychically attacked?

April knew Donnie followed her, and knew the others were staying away from her. They were being smart, and if Donnie was smart, he'd back off, too. If they thought they could get their hands on her crystal, if they even tried to, they'd be in for a rude awakening. Alone with her thoughts, April suddenly started questioning whether or not she was in-fact being paranoid. Donnie always followed her if he worried about her, and he and the others wouldn't be concerned about that crystal unless they felt all of them were at risk.

But they didn't need to worry. Donnie didn't need to worry. She had everything under control. She wasn't the weak girl grasping desperately for normality when they first met. She was a kunoichi. She had to be strong…strong enough to show she earned the title. The crystal helped her with that, and she could stop using it anytime she wanted. They didn't need to worry themselves sick over her.

'Look at them…they're all conspiring against you. They think you're growing too powerful. They think you're crazy. They'll take the crystal from you and use it for themselves. They want you weak again.'

'They wouldn't do that…would they?'

'You're working so hard to prove you're a kunoichi…but they still see you as weak compared to the Foot Queen and her parlor-trick witch. Don't let anyone rob you of your strength. Especially not that spineless coward Donatello.'

The flicker of concern on her face disappeared, and the cold mask put itself back on her face. She thought once again of that night Shinigami brutally defeated her. Just the thought of the witch's name felt like someone poured acid in her brain, and even Karai had a similar effect. They both thought they were better than her. Yeah, they were more experienced, but they didn't even want to give her a chance. Even the guys never really gave her a chance…it was all about Karai. Not even Donnie supported her being strong because he still disillusioned himself that she was his princess. Weak. Pretty to look at. Her dark thoughts intensified as she hopped down from the building and onto the empty street below.

"Go away, Donnie!" April skidded to a halt and sharply turned to face the confused turtle several feet away from her. "I don't need you following me every step of the way!"

"Wha…April, I'm just watching your back! You know, like we always do with each other on patrol?" Donnie snorted, growing irritated with his friend's mood swings as of late. She always knew he watched her back and vice-versa; why decide to snap now? "What's going on with you?"

"I don't need you panicking if I get a scratch. You act like I'm made of glass and can't handle a punch! Or are you wanting to sneak up on me and snatch my crystal!?"

Donnie scoffed and retorted, "That's not true! What makes you think I believe that?"

It was at this time that the others caught up and saw the argument unfolding. From the looks of things, as they feared, April was about to lose her temper once again. Just the way she started clutching the crystal set off red flags. They had to step in and calm her down before things got out of hand.

"April, calm down." Leo insisted, taking a step forward and holding his hand out in a soothing gesture. "Nobody's going to-"

The redhead suddenly gritted her teeth, spinning around to face the leader in blue. "Don't tell me to calm down! Sorry that I can't be cool and tough like your little girlfriend! At least I don't blow my brothers up in a pathetic attempt to show her how cool I am!"

Leo's jaw slacked open from the awful reminder of when he assisted Karai in her revenge scheme. That night ended up with Donnie comatose for a while, something he still regretted. Raph felt the pain of his brother's silence and decided to do something about it. "Hey, watch it, April! You've got stuff in your head that's not-"

"Aw, and here I thought you liked somebody tearing Leo down, or is that a privilege just for you?" April asked, her tone condescending and faking sympathy. "Cheap coming from a guy who almost kills his brothers every other week. I mean, you tell me not to get in over my head, yet you think you're better than everyone else!"

Raph's eyes widened, and he muttered, "How dare you…"

Mikey decided to intervene, but April quickly caught it and stopped him with, "I know what you're going to say, 'oh it's the magic crystal making you crazy! Congrats, Mikey! Hey, maybe next time you'll use your 'super' intuition to actually take things serious instead of screwing everything up and handing us over to some barely-clothed witch!"

"Whoa, hey, don't bring Shinigami into this!" Mikey snapped with a point of his finger. "I get you're mad that she beat you, but don't take it out on us!"

"Of course you'll defend her. That's why you let her beat us by acting like some love-struck idiot! An idiot that steals someone's property because he wants to bring pieces of paper to life!" Seeing Casey out of the corner of her eye standing agape, she decided he was next, too. "Don't think I've forgotten about you. Mr. Everything-is-Metal. Me being able to hand your butt over to you is a threat to how macho you are, isn't it!? I don't wreck everything and everyone around me because I'm bored! How can you even be on this team if you're not a ninja!?"

The others stood speechless at April's sudden tirade. And then…

"That's it, April!"

They all turned, and they found Donnie literally seething. If they thought he was mad at April that night, they never saw him this mad before, and not at April. His eyes already bloodshot from a lack of sleep, his teeth gritting to the point of audible grinding, and fists clenched on each side, it all became clear. Donnie pretty much snapped, and April was about to have it. Because when Donnie got mad, he could cut deep.

"Are you talking back to me, Donnie?" April asked in a patronizing tone.

Instead of answering her antagonizing question, Donnie stomped forward and pointed an accusatory finger at his friend, one he never really stood up to until now. However, even a reserved, quiet genius had his breaking points. "You've been acting crazy since you became obsessed with that crystal! I don't know where you got it in your head that we think so little of you, but you are addicted to its power! Now you're standing around thinking we want the crystal for that reason! We don't! Why would we want power like that; why would YOU want power like that!?"

April crossed her arms and suddenly smirked, "So you finally got a backbone? And here I thought you were afraid of making me mad. Afraid I'll run off again?"

Just the way April asked the question made the others pale. Not only did April know Donnie still feared another episode of abandonment…she actually mocked it. This wasn't the April they knew. April wouldn't try to viciously cut them down. She wouldn't dare try to cut Donnie down for any reason. That crystal messed with her head…made her develop a different personality.

Instead of shutting Donnie up, the taunt only made him angrier. "Yeah, I do fear that, but that's nothing compared to you becoming a jerk! I get you want to better your powers, but this isn't the way! You're just using the crystal as a crutch because you don't want to deal with any struggle! The only one here saying you're not good enough is YOU!" Seeing April's eyes widen and jaw drop open told him that he hit hard. But he couldn't let up; he had to give her some more tough love to make her wake up. "We're here trying to tell you the truth, and you bite our heads off because you don't want a lecture! You don't want to admit you have a problem!"

"I don't have a problem! You all just have a problem with me becoming stronger!" April heatedly denied.

Donnie shook his head and replied, "We want you to be strong, but it shouldn't come at the cost of who you are. You shouldn't be willing to sacrifice your sense of self because you got creamed by some freak! Getting strong the right way means getting rid of the crystal before you lose yourself to it!"

The redhead suddenly slinked back, clutching the crystal and glaring at Donnie with potent venom. "No! The crystal's MINE! I NEED it!"

"No, you don't, April!" Donnie retorted, hand extended as if to grab the object. "That's what addiction does! It makes want something that's actually hurting you!" For a moment, his expression softened, and he practically begged, "If you just let me, I can help you break from its hold on you. Just give it to me and we'll figure this out."

A part of April processed the information, and she honestly wanted to comply and hand over the crystal. She didn't like the anger and hatred coming out of her mouth. She didn't like mocking her friends or yelling at them for trivial things. She didn't like how the crystal made her head hurt. However…she didn't want to part with the power that saved her and them so many times. What right did Donnie have to say she was going to lose herself? And yet the way he begged…

'No! He just wants you to be weak! He wants to take your power for himself! He is wrong! Punish him!'

"April, give me the crystal-"

Donnie suddenly stopped when his body seized. Looking down, he could see his feet quickly lifting off the ground-no, his whole body lifted off the ground and towards the sky. The others looked and, to their horror, saw April with her eyes glowing blue and her arm extended. Why was April using her powers to lift Donnie into the air? The sickly-blue glow of the crystal told them the source, but found themselves unable to intervene as fear literally froze them in place.

"April, let him go!" Leo shouted desperately.

"Please, April, put him down!" Mikey begged, his voice strangled by oncoming sobs.

Raph and Casey attempted to grab April from behind, but a psychic blast from her other hand pushed them away. She kept her laminated eyes glued to the struggling Donnie, lifting him higher and higher from the ground, her face contorted in hateful anger. Not even the panicked expression on the purple-clad turtle's face stopped her.

"A-April! April, stop!" Donnie pleaded as his voice grew hoarse from shouting. "Why are you doing this!? APRIL!"

'Punish him.'

"Stay away from MY CRYSTAL!"

With Donnie hundreds of feet in the air, the angry April suddenly threw her arm down. Donnie suddenly spun on his back, screaming as his body rocketed towards the ground. The air whistled around him, fast enough to leave small cuts on his face and arms, and found himself praying to God that he would land on something soft. He could feel himself getting closer and closer to the concrete, and he squeezed his eyes shut as a single thought crossed his mind.

'I'm sorry, April. I tried…'

Leo, Raph, Mikey, and Casey would never forget the nauseating cracking sound they heard the moment Donnie made contact with the pavement. April remained emotionless, even as the glow from her eyes faded and her arm relaxed, and merely looked straight ahead. She didn't dare look at what she did. She acted as though she didn't hear the desperate cries of the others rushing to see Donnie's fate.

"DONNIE!"

She didn't look at the blood pooling underneath him.

Welp, I killed Donnie again. First in Turtle Dove, and now here. But is he really dead? Are you getting IDW 44 feels? Is April going to realize what she did? As always, you'll have to wait for the next chapter to find out.

Be sure to turn in for this, the next chapter of Turtle Dove 2, and the conclusion of the 2012 Turtles meeting the 1987 Turtles! I also apologize for the Donnie torture, but sometimes you have to give your absolute favorite characters a hard time.