Chapter Fourteen

Regretful Thoughts

The following morning, the frosty atmosphere in the lair still hadn't changed

Michelangelo was still in his tense mood which made everyone uneasy.

In fact, at breakfast, Mona was on duty to cook, and Michelangelo barely said a word but just sat at the table with a glare on his face.

The others found it difficult to carry on as normal over breakfast, and Mona was almost scared to ask Michelangelo what he wanted.

Even Splinter was worried about talking to Michelangelo in this state so he decided to speak to everyone about what the day would involve which was mostly training, followed by chores and the usual night patrol.

"I wish I could track down those bastards who abused Mona." Leonardo growled.

"You're not the only one!" Donatello agreed "Raph's already out for blood!"

Michelangelo just snarled and curled his fingers on the table prompting the two older turtles to shut up and look at their plates.

"He's not the only one." the orange masked turtle thought as he looked up at Mona who was stirring some eggs.

Just then, some happy chatter filled the room as Raphael came in with Pandora on his shoulders.

"Ah good morning Little Princess!" Donatello said cheerfully, he glanced at Michelangelo who looked up and his glare softened slightly seeing Pandora cheering and giggling as she rode on her father's shoulders.

"Hey Little Geisha!" Mona smiled turning to the table holding a pan of scrambled eggs "You ready for some breakfast?!"

"Yes please mummy!" Pandora squealed as Raphael lifted her off his shoulders and placed her in her high chair.

"Well here it comes!" Mona said as she started to serve some scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and other trimmings onto everyone's plates.

All through the meal, Michelangelo still didn't speak and everyone felt worried,even Pandora noticed.

"Uncle Mikey?" she asked "Are you okay?"

Michelangelo looked up from his plate and looked at the little reptile.

"I'm fine." he said with a mouthful of sausage.

Pandora then grinned.

"Will you play with me later Uncle Mikey?" she asked "We didn't get to yesterday, daddy said you were tired."

The other turtles, Mona and Splinter gulped or looked awkward.

Last night, after Michelangelo stormed off to his room, Pandora had woken from her nap not long afterwards and wanted to play with him.

But Michelangelo hadn't emerged from his room since he was still angry and only came out to get some supper and go back into his room.

To cover what had happened, the others merely told Pandora that Michelangelo was tired since it was a rather difficult night, which wasn't that far from the truth and Donatello decided to pacify Pandora by showing her a toy car he had fixed up after finding it in the sewers and putting her teddies on it for a ride.

Michelangelo swallowed his sausage and looked at Pandora.

"I don't know Little Geisha." he said "It was a difficult night last night...and I kinda need to keep up my skills."

Pandora's face fell slightly.

"But we will play again won't we?" she asked in a small voice.

"Yeah, sure we will." said Michelangelo in a voice that sounds so far away and uninterested.

Pandora looked worried as well as sad, then looked at her parents.

Mona bit her lip but she forced a smile.

"Don't worry Little Geisha." she said "Let's just finish breakfast and we'll see what we can do later okay?"

"Okay." sighed Pandora as she looked back at her breakfast then up at Michelangelo who looked back at his own plate to finish his breakfast.

A little while later, everyone was gathered to begin training.

Pandora as usual wanted to join in, but Raphael shook his head.

"No sweetheart." he said "You're not old enough, but you can stand by and watch."

"I wish I could join in now daddy." said Pandora with a pout.

"Don't worry." said Raphael as he placed Pandora in a playpen so she could safely watch "You'll be grown up soon enough."

He kissed his daughter then went to join the others.

Splinter then lined everyone up and started to call out names of the moves to which everyone did in sync.

Observing his children, Splinter watched Michelangelo especially, seeing how aggressive he was, and even more so after last nights events.

The youngest turtle was indeed throwing a lot of energy into his attacks, he was less bouncy and excitable in his moves and was almost putting Raphael to shame.

"As much as I enjoy the fact my youngest son is taking this seriously." he thought "I do miss the bubbly energetic son he normally is."

In fact, Splinter wasn't alone, as the others felt the same way as they watched him.

The changes in his behaviour were just the tip of the iceberg, but now it was really starting to surface, and what was worrying was that he didn't seem interested in playing with Pandora or doing what he truly loved like reading his comics, watching the TV or playing video games.

After a while, training ended and Splinter tapped his stick.

"Well done my children." he said "You did well." he then turned to Michelangelo "I can see you are taking your training seriously Michelangelo."

Michelangelo cocked his head on one side.

"Well, you wanted that didn't you?" he asked "Well you all wished for it, right?"

"Mikey?!" Mona exclaimed.

"Well, you all wanted me to become more serious with my training as well as on patrol, and you got it!" Michelangelo said "Here it is!"

"Mikey." said Leonardo "Listen, we appreciate that you've taken your training seriously, but this...well, attitude...it isn't you."

"Tell me about it!" said Donatello "So not you!"

"I hardly know you now little brother." said Mona.

"Yeah!" said Raphael "You're putting me to shame!"

Michelangelo stared at everyone and put his hands on his hips.

"Alright!" he said sternly "You wanted me to be serious and now you got it, and now you don't like it!"

"Mikey..." Donatello started.

"So when I'm joking and being me, you don't like it, and now I'm being serious like Leo and more hard hitting like Raph, you don't like that either!?"

Michelangelo looked at the others who looked at each other.

"Well it ain't fair is it!?" Michelangelo barked making everyone flinch slightly, even Pandora looked slightly scared.

Michelangelo took another breath.

"Well, since you can't make up your minds about which sort of me you want here, there's no point being in the same place!" Michelangelo snapped as he turned on his heel.

"Mikey wait!" Leonardo said "Where are you going!?"

"To get some air Fearless!" Michelangelo retorted "And hopefully when I come back, you'll have some idea on which me you want!" and so saying, he stomped out of the lair gripping his nun-chucks tightly leaving everyone gaping.

"Mummy." Pandora's voice soon spoke making everyone jump.

"I don't like this new Uncle Mikey, he seems so angry."

Mona turned to Pandora who was standing in her pen looking upset.

"Awww baby." Mona said walking over to her daughter and picking her up "He's not angry at you sweetheart."

Splinter sighed sadly.

"But he is angry at the rest of us." he commented.

"Man," said Raphael "Seeing him like this...I think I prefer how he was before."

"Oh now you're saying you want the old Mikey back?!" said Donatello "Well you wished for him to be more serious Raph! And you got your wish!"

"You gotta be careful for what you wish for!" Leonardo commented.

"That is true." said Splinter.

Raphael looked up at his brothers, normally he would counter argue, but this time, he had nothing to say. Sighing he looked down at his feet.

"Now what Master?" asked Donatello, worried about Michelangelo being outside in the state he was in.

"We should let him calm down." said Splinter.

"Oh yeah, like that's worked the past couple of nights." Raphael said quietly.

Leonardo glared at Raphael then went over to the sofa.

"Well I know who I want back." he said "The old Michelangelo."

"Me too." said Mona "I wish we had the old Mikey back."

"So do I sis." said Donatello.

"I also." Splinter said.
"Me too!" Pandora agreed "I like the fun bouncy Uncle Mikey best!"

Raphael sighed ashamed.

You're so right guys." he said "I take it all back, I preferred the old Mikey too." he crossed his arms and watched the entrance with a regretful sigh.

"I'm so sorry Mikey." he said softly "I've been such a dick to you...please stay safe out there."

Oh dear, it seems everyone's regretting what they wished for, especially Raphael! Like Leonardo said 'Be careful what you wish for!'

They all want the old Mikey back now!

More coming soon!