Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Every family has their own Christmas Eve traditions, some may go out caroling, others bake ginger bread cookies, and our favorite family of ninjas have a friendly 5 vs. 1 match against Master Splinter. Said master currently waits patiently in the center of the dojo as his sons devise their plan of attack.

"Ok here's the plan" Leo addressed the team "Donnie you strike first."

"You want me to come at Splinter?!" he questioned his brother's sanity. "Forget it, I'll get pummeled."

"Well getting pummeled is your specialty" Raph joked, annoying his brainy brother.

"Trust me, it's all part of my plan to catch Sensei off guard" Leo tried to assure his brothers, but their skeptical as they've yet to actually land a single hit on Splinter.

"Leo, don't take this the wrong way, but against Splinter your plans always get our butts whipped" Mikey remarks, reminding them of their past loses against their father.

"Ok new thought Mikey goes first" the blue turtle decides, in a bid of petty revenge.

"He took it the wrong way" Harry quips, getting an annoyed look from Michelangelo.

"Enough talking let's just do this!" Raph voices his impatience, but with no other plan the brother surround their sensei. Despite having his eyes closed the ninja master misses nothing, easily sliding into a fighting stance as his sons take their positions.

Mikey makes the first move coming from behind with a drop kick, but Splinter hears him coming, his eyes shoot open as he plucks the turtle out of the air, slams him into the ground finishing by kicking Michelangelo to the side.

With Mikey defeated Raph and Donnie attempt a combined attack, while Harry and Leo act as their backup. Raph attempts to come at Splinter from above while Donnie comes in with a flying kick, only for them to be easily evaded by the master ninja. Hoping to catch him by surprise Harry teleports behind Splinter, this proves to be a mistake for even in the midst of battle Splinter is able to sense the subtle vibrations of Harry's movement. Before the boy can launch his attack Splinter grabs him by the wrist and pulls him into the path of Leonardo's incoming kick, with no time to stop Leo's kick takes Harry out of the fight.

Donnie attempts to land a roundhouse while Splinter is seemingly distracted, but the rat master simply grabs his leg and sweeps breaking Donnie's ground. As the turtle is airborne Splinter lands a devastating roundhouse of his own launching Donnie into the approaching Raphael taking them both out. Down to his last opponent Splinter turns on his heel throwing a punch at Leonardo, who managing to roll under the attack, counters landing a punch in Splinter's face.

"Ugh Sensei, I'm sorry" Leo apologizes, shocked that he actually managed to touch Splinter. With Leo distracted by his apologies, Splinter finishes the match grabbing his outstretched arm and flipping him onto the mat his fist ready to make the knockout.

"Well done Leonardo" Splinter praises, releasing his son. "But just when you had the advantage you hesitated and that made you vulnerable."

"Hai Sensei" Leo groans, climbing to his feet.

"That is all for today" Splinter announces. "Unless you would like a rematch." as the brothers wisely chose not to take him up on the offer, Splinter enters his room to meditate as the boys celebrate Leo's accomplishment.

"Whoa Leo, I can't believe you actually tagged Sensei" says Donnie in awe of his brother.

"This totally makes up for you kicking me" said Harry.

"The hand that punched Splinter" says Mikey, holding said hand like it was sacred. "You can never wash this hand again."

"I got to say guys it was all team work" Leo replies, enjoying the praise. "We are definitely getting better."

"Think we might be catching up to Splinter?" Donnie asks.

"Yeah maybe soon we won't need him to train us at all" Mikey cheers. From his room Splinter hearing the boys' declaration adopts a look of concern.

Meanwhile a dark figure looks out on the city, stepping into the light the figure is revealed to have a corpse like appearance with dry and wrinkled flesh, rotting teeth. Combined with his long black coat, matching hat, and blindfold gives him a look right out of a horror movie.

"Through your eyes brothers I finally see the world for what it really is" the living corpse addresses his army of rats. "This city is infested! 8million parasites scrambling around in their pointless lives, spreading disease, forcing us to live in the shadows like vermin. No more! They are the true plague together we shall rid the city of humanity and reclaim it as our own. And no one not even those vile turtles and their retched boy will stop us!"

Like a plague the rats swarmed the streets invading homes, and businesses as they drove people out of the city in a panic. All the while beneath the surface the rats report their progress to their king.

"You've done well brothers, but our fight is not yet won" said The Rat King. "Those turtles and their boy are still out there and I fear even you won't be able to stop them. But I sense a kindred spirit who can. A fellow rat who once knew the bonds of humanity as I did, a great warrior who shall serve as both my eyes and protector."

In the lair's dojo Splinter is in the middle of a training session with Hedwig, helping her to develop her own combat skills, when suddenly begins to hear The Rat Kings voice in his head.

"Join me…Join me" the voice whispers trying to draw Splinter in, but he manages to resist, though the effort forces him to his knees screaming. Hearing their father's scream the boys rush inside to see Hedwig trying to help the great ninja master.

"Sensei are you alright?" Donnie asks, mentally running through every bit of medical knowledge he has.

"I…am fine" Splinter tries to assure them, his breathing slowly returning to normal.

"What happened to him?" Harry asks, trying to hide his panic at the sight of his powerful father unwell.

"I don't know. He was just showing me a sword technique I could use with my wings when…" Hedwig's explanation was interrupted by the sound Donnie's T-phone going off the flowery ringtone indicating April's calling, exciting the turtle as well as prompting Raph and Mikey to make kissy noises much to Donatello's and surprisingly Harry's discomfort.

"No more kissy noises" the young human groaned. "After The Talk with Sensei I don't want to hear anything about girls and romance for a long time." Rolling his eyes at his brother's words Donnie answers the call.

"Hey April" Donnie answers excitedly before trying a different approach. "I mean heeeey April. I mean…"

Oh my god this is just too painful to watch Harry thinks to himself, sourly tempted to take the phone himself.

"Donnie stop talking" April interrupts the turtle's attempt to find the perfect greeting. "I need some help, I'm having a bit of a pest problem" she quips as a vicious horde of rats chase her up a telephone pole.

"Guys we've got to go, some killer rats of got April trapped on a telephone pole."

"But what about Master Splinter?" Harry questions worried about their father.

"Go help April, I'll tend to Splinter" Hedwig assures the boys, with their worries satisfied for the moment the boys make their second daytime trip to the surface. As they move across the rooftops, the sounds of panic don't go unnoticed.

OK this is way too crazy to just be because of last minute shopping Harry things to himself.

"Wow the city's so beautiful in the day time" Mikey voices. "You know except for the billions of rats."

"Eh I like the city lights at better" Harry counters his opinion. "But I agree there's got to be like a gazillion rats running around."

"Well first off gazillion isn't an actual number" Donnie lectures. "The actual rat population of New York is only about 36 million…"

"I will smack you out of your shell!" Raph threatens, interrupting his brother's lecture.

"Guys we may have a problem" says Leo as they reach April's location, only to find the street below filled with a massive river of rats; rats that currently chewing through the telephone pole.

"Aw rats" Mikey jokes much to the annoyance of his brothers. "Get it?"

"For the 14th time, yes!" Raph answers annoyed by his brother's bad joke.

"We're coming April, don't go anywhere!" Donnie tries to assure her.

"Where could I possible go?!" the redhead replies sarcastically.

"Harry, think you could teleport over and grab her before the pole collapses?" Leo asks his brother.

"No problem" he answers confidently. Confidence that proves to be well placed as Harry teleports over and grabs April and makes it back, just as the rats finished chewing through the structure.

"Chew on that ratfinks" Leo quips, prompting his brothers to groan in agony. "Oh come on that was cool."

"Bro, remind me to get you a book of catchphrases" Harry retorts.

"Does anyone know what the hell is going on?" April asks, reminding them of the psychotic rodents rampaging through the city.

"I'm not sure, but whatever it is this attack is extremely well coordinated" Donnie observes. "There hast to be a higher intelligence at work here."

"Well that rules out Mikey" Raph jokes.

"I'm serious someone or something is controlling every rat in the city." Donnie's words send a chill through them as they come to the same horrific realization that Splinter was at risk.

Their fears prove true as down in the lair Splinter is struggling against his mental assailant.

"Why fight it you know in your heart you belong with The Rat King."

"Leave me I am not one of your rats to control."

"You're right you are so much more, we are so much more. Together we will be unstoppable."

"No we are nothing alike!" Splinter continued to fight.

"We've both lost all that we hold dear." Rat King persisted, conjuring the sight of Hamato Yoshi's former home burning to the ground, his beloved Tang Shen dead in his arms. "We've both become out casts of society. And we've both come to see the world through the eyes of rats."

"No!" Splinter denies, turning away from the painful image. "I am a man. I am Hamato Yoshi!"

"Not anymore" Rat King replies, coldly reminding him of all he's lost.

Racing into the lair April and the boys find Hedwig worrying over the still form of Master Splinter.

"Is he ok?" April asks concerned for her sensei.

"I don't know he seemed like he was in pain and then he just went still" Hedwig reported.

"Donnie you're the smart one, what do we do?" Raph questions his brother, trying to keep control of his rising panic.

"Maybe we should poke him" the turtle suggests weakly.

"Poke him, really Donnie you couldn't think of anything else." Harry criticizes, unable to control himself as well as his brothers.

"It might wake him up" says Leo, trying calm his youngest brother. "Mikey you poke him"

"No way, I'm not poking him you poke him" the younger turtle argues.

"Ok we'll put it to a vote."

"Mikey" Raph, Leo, Donnie, Harry, and surprisingly Hedwig vote.

"I want a recount" Mikey tries to argue, but Donnie simply forces his staff into his brother's hands and send him on his way.

"I'm surprised you aren't stopping them" April remarks, used to the motherly nature of the owl mutants relationship with the boys.

"Normally I'd probably be against it" Hedwig admits. "But at this point I've tried everything put poking him."

With no other options Mikey nervously moves the staff towards Splinter's nose, just as he was about to make contact, he accidentally releases the naginata blade, prompting terrifying screams from the family.

"Ok how about the other end!" Donnie yells, still freaked out over Mikey almost accidentally killed their father. Taking the staff again Mikey gingerly pokes Splinter a number of times but there's no reaction. Unaware of his family's efforts to wake him Splinter continues to fight desperately against Rat King's relentless efforts to enslave him.

"We have evolved beyond humanity, we have no need for them. Join me and you shall hide below the surface no more."

"No" Splinter groans, finally weakening under the strain. Summoning the last of his strength he awakens to find Michelangelo poking him with his brother's staff. Throwing Mikey to the side in annoyance, Splinter struggles to his feet.

"Sensei are you alright?" Leo asks.

"No Leonardo I am not" Splinter groans, returning Donatello's staff he moves towards the dojo, April and Hedwig offering as much support as they can. "It appears your former adversary Dr. Falco has returned."

"Falco's behind this" Donnie repeats surprised by the revelation. "How is that possible?"

"Somehow he has acquired a telepathic connection to every rat in New York. And he now calls himself The Rat King."

"Oh so we're letting the bad guys name themselves now!" Mikey comments angrily, as he takes pride in creating names. "We've got to take this guy down."

"Yes Michelangelo you do" Splinter agrees, though probably not for the same reasons. "Rat King will not rest until he has total control of the city… and my mind."

"Sensei?" Harry asks worriedly, but Splinter's eyes focus in on his old family photo.

"Everything I knew is gone my wife, my daughter, my clan, even my humanity. You five are all I have left."

"Don't you worry Sensei, we'll stop him" Raph assures him, but Donnie reminds them they don't have a clue where to look.

"When The Rat King attempted to take control of me, I could see into his mind." Splinter reports. "You will find his lair in an abandoned utility junction beneath Harold's Square."

"You guys go stop Rat King Hedwig and I can watch Sensei" April assures the boys, as they lead Splinter to his futon. As their father is carried away Leo takes a moment to examine Splinter's human family photo, before rushing off to join his brothers.

"What's going to happen to Splinter if we can't stop The Rat King?" Mikey asks, as they walk through the sewer tunnels towards the villain's lair. "Which by the way is the lamest villain name ever."

"Let it go already" Donnie whines, tired of his brother's persistent complaining over his naming thing.

"We're going to stop Rat King and Splinter's going to be fine" says Raph, assuring his brothers and himself.

"Hey do you guys hear something?" Harry asks, as a strange squeaking echoes through the tunnels. No one had to bother answering, as the noise was soon revealed to be a swarm of rats tearing through the tunnels. The rats chased the boys down the tunnels, biting at their heels until they found an escape route. Using some overhead pipes as monkey bars they manage to escape the rodent tidal wave, mostly unscathed with Mikey getting bit on the head by a lone rat.

"Oh no they have the taste for turtle now!"

"Don't worry Mikey, I don't think turtle meat is in their diet" Harry assured his brother.

"Let's move!" Leo ordered, as they monkey bared down the tunnel following the rats back to their king.

Meanwhile Rat King resumes his efforts to control Splinter.

"Why do you cling to this life of yours?"

"I… am… needed here" Splinter groans, his strength weakening further.

"By who? Even your so called children have begun to outgrow you" The Rat King taunts him, reminding Splinter of their earlier sparring session where Leo punched him, and their subsequent declaration of not needing him anymore. "And soon you will be all alone. Come we are your family now."

"Nooooo!" Splinter cries, as Falco digs his claws deeper into his mind. Hearing his cries Hedwig and April enter the dojo to check on the ninja master.

"Master Splinter" April calls worriedly, the dimed lights of the room adding to her fear.

"Splinter are you here?" Hedwig tries, but even her razor sharp eyes see no trace of her friend. Splinter soon makes himself known when April accidently backs up into him, but the glowing red of the ninja master's eyes alerts the women that something was terribly wrong.

"April look out!" Hedwig cries, taking note of the sword in Splinter's hands. April's months of training pay off as she manages to dodge Splinter's initial slash, before Hedwig steps in hoping to subdue the rat man. "Splinter it's us, please you have to wake up." The owl woman's pleases fall on deaf ears, as she's quickly forced to block Splinter's attempt at decapitation, the force of the swing actually manages to cut through a few of her steel tipped feathers.

Marveled by Splinter's strength Hedwig misses what would've been a fatal strike, had April not been able to tackle her out of the way, the sword just grazes the back the teenager's hair as they roll across to the far side of the dojo. Seeing they were going to have to use force Hedwig fired off a few feather blades, hoping to pin Splinter down. However regardless of mind control Splinter is still one of the greatest ninja masters, as he easily deflects the feathers away, snatching a few of the blades midflight, he tosses them back at Hedwig pining her wings to the wall with her own weapons.

Left with no way to defend themselves April and Hedwig prepare for the end as Splinter's sword bares down on them only to stop just short, as The Rat King has need of his newest warrior, he abandons his attack and leaves the girls behind, the only sign of their near death experience is the few loose strands of hair falling from April's head.

"Bangs were getting long anyway" the redhead jokes, as she struggles to control her breathing.

Back in the tunnels the boys continue to make their way to The Rat King's lair, and Michelangelo still won't stop whining.

"Seriously I could come up with a million better names than Rat King." Mikey complained "There's The Verminator, Lord Rattington…"

"Can it Mikey" Leo interrupts. "We're almost there, the utility chamber should be right behind that wall."

"Do you mean that disgusting, furry, squirming wall" Raph comments, drawing their attention to the wall of rats blocking their path.

"How are we supposed to get past that?" Donnie asks. Making a quick observation Leo has all he needs for an explosion of a plan.

"Raph those barrels ventilate them" the blue turtle orders.

"You got it" a few shuriken quickly sees the barrels leaking chemicals.

"Uh Leo you do realize those chemicals are highly combustible" Donnie notes.

"You don't say" he replied sarcastically "Harry light 'em up."

"Burnt rats coming right up" the fire spell ignites the chemicals, the resulting explosions clears the way and boys make their way inside where they are confronted by Falco.

"Ah my friends we meet again."

"Except last time Falco you weren't wearing a sad Halloween costume" Raph jokes, getting a laugh from his brothers.

"I am The Rat King!"

"Lame" Mikey coughs, in a not so subtle attempt to hide his displeasure with the name.

"You're ruining Christmas Falco, now it's time we decked your halls" Harry quips, the tension building in the room is soon interrupted as Donnie's phone plays a flowery ringtone.

"Why to ruin the moment Donnie" Raph remarks, as his brother quickly answers the phone.

"April this not a good time."

"Donnie, Splinter's gone!" the redhead reports, as she and the now free Hedwig pace the room in trying not to panic.

"What do mean gone, gone where?" Donnie asks.

"Here" Splinter answers, walking into the chamber his eyes glowing red under The Rat King's power, much to the boys horror.

"Sensei snap out of it!" Leo cries, trying to awaken Splinter.

"You waste your words, this is where I belong with my brothers."

"He is mine now" says Rat King taunting the boys. "Imagine my delight when I realized that controlling your master would not only make me invincible, but would also be the key to your destruction!"

"I've had enough Falco!" Harry yelled, enraged by the villains words he drew his tantō and charged intending to slay the king, only for Splinter to stand in his way, blocking Harry's blade with his sword.

"Sensei don't!" Leo cried, desperately hoping to reach him. For a moment it appears as if Splinter was about to break free as he ceased his attack allowing Harry to fall back to his brothers. Not willing to let go of his pawn Falco ripped off his blind fold, increasing his powers.

"Splinter destroy them!" Rat King laughed, as he regained control over the great warrior leaving the brothers no choice but to fight Master Splinter.

"Are we really going to do this?" Donnie asks uncomfortable with the idea.

"Remember we did beat him once…sort of" Raph tries and fails to sound confident.

"We can do this guys" Leo assures them. "Do not hesitate. Take Sensei down."

Hoping to end things quickly the boys all attack at once, only to their surprise Splinter didn't just evade their attacks, they'd completely lost track of him, as if he vanished into the wind. They don't have to search long, as Splinter quickly makes his presence known as his counter attack sends the boys flying around the room.

"What was that?" Harry groans, climbing to his feet. "I didn't even see him move."

"Guys I just had a horrible realization" Donnie announces. "He's been going easy on us all these years." Donnie's words ring true as Splinter easily evades the purple turtle's every attack, every jab, strike, punch, or kick it doesn't matter as Splinter sees through them all. As Donnie tries to go for an overhead strike, Splinter simply brings his sword up knocking the staff out of Donnie's hands, an elbow strike then sends the brainy turtle flying.

"Donnie!" Mikey cries, worried about his brother. Launching the weight of his kusarigama, Mikey hoped to at least disarm Splinter, and while he does succeed in wrapping a chain around his sensei's sword, this proves disastrous. As Splinter's superior strength and technique sees him flailing Mikey into the wall.

"Nobody hits Mikey but me!" says Raph, charging from behind only for Splinter to sidestep him, turning around the turtle is surprised to see his father has completely disappeared. The sound of movement through the air alerts Raph just in time to see Splinter flipping over his head, landing a kick in the turtle's face.

Seeing no way to stop Splinter, Harry attempted to go after the Rat King again. He got within perhaps two feet of his target before being sideswiped by a flying kick from Splinter, knocking the poor boy into a pile of broken pipes.

With his brothers defeated it was left to Leonardo to try and stop their father. Leo tried desperately to reach Splinter, but his words failed to reach him, as they met in an in hail of steel. The sound of their swords clashing echoed through the chamber as Leo struggled to evade Splinter's relentless assault. The ninja master left no openings for his son to exploit, unable to even attempt to take control Leo was quickly disarmed, and left facing down the end of Splinter's sword.

"Remember who you are!" Leo cried desperately, revealing the photo of Splinter and his wife and child. "Hamato Yoshi!" Something must have been able to reach him, as Splinter froze up allowing the boys to tackle him to the ground. "Please Father, we need you."

"Don't listen to him brother" said Rat King, trying to regain his hold on Splinter. "Your place is with me." In a show of strength, Splinter manages to roll the boys off him escaping their dogpile, with the others unable to help Splinter pins Leo to the ground, preparing to decapitate the turtle with his own sword.

"My…Place…IS WITH MY SONS!" Splinter cries out, breaking free of Rat King's control. Charging the shocked villain, Splinter strikes the man with just two fingers, the force of which sends Falco flying across the room, crashing into a stone pillar before dropping to the ground a broken and defeated man. Seeing his back to normal the boys swarm Splinter in a group hug, something that he is more than glad to bask in.

"I'm glad you're ok Daddy" Harry whispers quietly, just enough for Splinter to hear, bringing a small smile to his face as he realizes how much this day has affected his youngest; He hasn't called me Daddy in years.

The sound of squeaking draws their attention to Falco, however before anyone can move into the capture or finish the mad man, a swarm of rats run over his body carrying him away.

"And that's the last we'll see of Count Ratula" says Mikey, trying once again to rename the villain but sadly not even Splinter is willing to indulge him. "Ok fine it's Rat King but I'm naming the next one!"

Back in the dojo Splinter is mediating peacefully when Leo enters to check in on him.

"Are you sure you're ok Sensei?"

"I am fine my son" Splinter smiles. "Thanks to you my son." Seeing his father in good spirits the turtle can't help teasing him a little.

"Well you did hesitate and hesitation leads to vulnerability" Leo teases, repeating his father's earlier words.

"We did pretty good too huh" says Mikey, as he and the others carry in the decorations for the tree.

"Yes" Splinter agrees "I am proud of you all."

"Who knows Sensei, maybe one day we'll be even greater martial artists than you" says Leo, pushing his luck with the teasing.

"Remember my son everything you know I have shown you" without warning Splinter throws Leo against the wall. "But I have not shown you everything I know"

"Good to have you back Sensei" Leo groans, as Splinter chuckles while Hedwig and the boys smile at the fact their family is still whole.

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