Rating: Overall story rated T

Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon.

Warnings: Overall story contains disturbing imagery such as blood, gore and the like, and disturbing situations.

Summary: The world as they knew it has gone to ruins. The shadows, once their greatest allies, now harbour threats so great it's safer to risk walking in open daylight and Mikey and April will do anything to keep what remains of their family safe; even if it means abandoning home and everything they knew. This story is AU and an RP collaboration between sampsonknight and Zelgadis55.

Comments, thoughts and concrit are always welcome.

Butterflies: I'm glad we were able to help brighten your day a little. I hope you're still okay. Yeah, Sampson and I have had a little too much fun with this story at times so don't worry, despite it being an overall darker story in many ways, there is definitely more inappropriate humour to come throughout XD

Guide road adven: Yeah, unfortunately, Mikey definitely needs to grow up for the sake of his little brothers but you can bet he's going to fight the growing up part (nearly) all the way, while still trying to be responsible. Yes, Sampson has some of the best stories, different to the norm but deep with far more going on than at first appears. It's fun writing with her.

Sekai no Owari

Ch 9

With a weary sigh, Michelangelo struggled to his feet, careful not to disturb Leo beside him. His now suddenly little brother had tried to stay awake to listen to his and April's conversation but had finally succumbed to his exhaustion not long ago. As he stood, another wave of dizziness hit him and he swayed once he gained his feet.

"Mikey? What happened to your foot?" April asked, unsure if it was wise of him to get up so soon.

Mikey glanced down, "Which one?" he asked jokingly.

"Which, what?" April eyed him up and down as she demanded his answer.

"I don't really wanna move for the rest of the week but this isn't the best place to sleep. Should get them to bed at least," Mikey replied tiredly, deliberately doing his best to sidetrack April. "At least the bedrooms are right there. Donnie's room or mine? I've got bunk beds but Donnie's bed is bigger. Leo's is just a mattress on the ground but it's small..."

"Let's go with Donnie's, I don't trust a bunk bed with either Leo or Raph, it only takes one to try to climb it and fall." April pointed out, then turn her head towards Donnie, "As for Donnie? Neither of us could carry him without waking him up."

"I dunno," Mikey chuckled, "you ever tried waking him after he's pulled an all-nighter? Dude sleeps like the dead!"

Chuckling April smiled, "Oh is that what that was, I figured he was faking it to get a kiss to wake him like in sleeping beauty." April laughed, then sobered, looking down at the child and seeing how joking around seemed inappropriate now.

"See, Ape? And you wonder why I wondered if baby Raphie there was yours and Donnie's," Mikey joked back as he leant down to pick up Leo.

Shaking her head, she sighed, "Mikey, for the last time there was nothing between me and him, I told you you're the only one for me!" she snickered reminding him of her comment the baby was his and how horrified she was on that idea.

"Why, Miss April, are you harbouring thoughts about me?" Mikey asked seductively, batting his eyelids as he stood straight, Leo in his arms. "Because I'm terribly sorry to say 'cause I don't want to hurt you but I already have feelings for someone else," he added as he limped towards Donnie's room a couple of doors down.

Calling softly not to wake Raph, April replied, "Oh is that so, Mikey? Would it be that blonde on Second Street? You are aware she is just a mannequin right?"

"Well, she is cute but nope, not her," he said, flashing a tired smile back at April. "You could say the girl I like is outta this world!" Mikey pushed the door open and walked over to Donnie's bed. Once there he gently put Leo down and headed back to April.

April, unable to move waited for Mikey, cradling Raph in her arms to make it easier for her to get up with him.

Carefully, Mikey crouched down to scoop up Donnie without waking him. As he stood without Donnie doing more than shift slightly within his arms, Mikey released a tense breath and took a step. Unfortunately, Donnie's weight was too much and as he stepped onto his cut foot, he cried out as it gave way and they went down.

"Mikey!" April called softly in alarm. Raph shuffled in her arms as she quickly rocked him, kissing him on the head to tell him it's all okay and go back to sleep.

Trying to protect his brother, Mikey flailed and managed to redirect the fall, landing on his rump with Donnie slamming down on top of him, knocking him back on his shell.

"What's going on?" Donnie half cried half grumbled, blinking sleepily at the sea-green turtle under him.

"Are you okay?" April winced.

"Ugh... I would be if I wasn't being flattened by an ele... by Donnie!" Mikey quickly correctly, groaning because his head hit the floor again. Thankfully it wasn't as hard this time but it didn't help his headache any.

"Well, excuse me!" Donnie huffed indignantly. Then he looked up, seeing Mikey properly for the first time and his eyes widened in shock at the sight of the older turtle. Fully awake now, he scrambled away.

Mikey painfully pushed himself upright, groaning slightly as Donnie stared the fallen turtle up and down in disbelief before remembering that photo once more. It looked like Mikey but a couple of years older than even in that picture.

"Mikey? I-is that really you?" Donnie whispered.

Mikey looked over to his younger brother and nodded sadly. "Yeah bro, it's really me. Are you okay?"

Donnie nodded before swallowing painfully; he had a million questions. "How old are you? How many years did we lose?" he asked softly, his voice full of anguish.

Mikey hesitated a moment, exchanging a look with April, "I'm twenty-two. I dunno, I know Leo said he was like a couple of weeks away from turning six and Raph..." Mikey turned and stared painfully at Raph within April's arms for a moment.

"I think Raph might be roughly 6 months old or so..." April supplied softly.

"What about you?" Mikey asked after a moment, turning back to Donnie. "What happened?"

"I remember us having our twelfth birthday eleven days ago... but obviously that's wrong," Donnie muttered bitterly, looking down at himself. He could normally rely on his memory and he resented the fact obviously he couldn't any longer. "As for what happened, how would I know?"

"Even small details might help us figure out what happened?" April pointed out hopefully.

Donnie shot April a dark look. "As I believe we already established, I don't remember anything from before my age was reversed," he replied snidely. Donnie then turned back to Mikey, "Before waking up in this strange place, the last thing I remember was you going on about the 'mondo awesome' costume you were wearing for Halloween the day after tomorrow... and then, Raph and Leo starting to argue about what we were going to do when we went up and then... and then waking up in this huge prison with everything changed..."

"I'm sorry," April muttered to herself, getting to her feet. She figured it better to let them talk and not bother them, instead making her way to the room to place Raph in bed with Leo.

Mikey glanced apologetically at April as she left, knowing how she was hurting having her best friend not knowing her anymore and treating her so coldly, despite having fallen asleep against her. He shifted closer to his brother and reached out, only to have Donnie pull away. "Don..." he said softly, his heart aching.

"Don't," Donnie replied emotionlessly. "I look around this place and see all this evidence pointing to something that's impossible! Should be impossible. It doesn't make sense and yet you expect me to have answers?"

"I don't..." Mikey began before trailing off and realising that's exactly what he did expect. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it, I guess I'm just used to you having the answers. We all are."

"I've lost everything, Mikey!" Donnie exploded, the stress of the night getting to him. "My home, my memory, my brothers, my father... what... what happened to Master Splinter anyway?"

Mikey sighed. "Old age. He died in his sleep two winters ago."

"So I've lost approximately eight years with Master Splinter..."

Mikey fell silent, not knowing how to comfort his brother when Donnie had made it clear he didn't want to it.

"And ten years with you," Donnie continued. "And then there's Leo and Raph who've lost even more..."

"Poor Raph isn't going to remember anything about Master Splinter," Mikey said softly, having already realised that.

"Hah! It gets worse. Raph isn't going to remember anything of our lives together at all," Donnie said bitterly. "And what's this suddenly letting humans into the lair? How did Master Splinter ever agree to that? How long have we been in this place anyway? What happened to our old home?"

"Long story, bro and I'll be happy to tell you everything I can later but first, about April. I know you don't remember her right now but she's our best friend. She's your best friend."

Donnie glanced over at Mikey trying to disguise the hurt and confusion on his face. "Master Splinter always told us to keep away from humans and not let them see who we really are."

"I know, but..."

"They can't be trusted with our secret, Mikey."

"Most can't, but she can. We met her when we were fifteen, bro, saved her life and brought her home when she collapsed. Not long later, she helped us in return and we've been through so much together since." Mikey sighed, seeing the suspicious look still in his brother's eyes. "I trust April with my life and the rest of you did too. Look, Don, she's family now, has been for a long time, so just try to keep an open mind about her, 'kay? That's all I ask, bro."

Donnie nodded uncomfortably.

"Anyway, there is totally one thing you are wrong about and that's not something I get to say often," Mikey suddenly teased with a wide grinned.

"What's that?"

"You may have lost your memories from when you were older but you haven't lost us. We're still here, Donnie, just different than you last remember."

At that, Donnie gave a weak smile.

Returning at that moment, April didn't say a word, just reached down and removed Mikey's Shell-cell from his belt.

"What are you doing?" Mikey asked, suddenly surprised; he hadn't noticed her come back out the room.

Ignoring the question she opened the cell up pressing a few buttons before returning it to him, "Don't press the mute button, we can hear them but with it muted they can't hear us. This way we know they are fine." With that, she walked past the two turtles in the direction of the lab.

"What? April? Where are you going?" Mikey asked, jumping to his feet and intending to go after her. Once again, he was reminded of how bad fast, sudden moves were for his head and sense of balance and that his foot really hurt.

Determined not to waste any more time, she didn't turn around, only throwing her voice over her shoulder, "Going to find answers!"

-:-

She avoided the scattered gear that gave her ghostly shivers up her spine as she finally stopped her dogged march, inches away from the drops of blood.

Moving towards it she knelt down, looking at them as she took in the room's atmosphere.

She knew this lab better than anyone other than Donnie of course; she knew where everything was, where everything belonged and where it didn't.

Rising to her feet she moved past the blood, realising it had no relevance at the current moment, and avoided the glass, thankful she had a spare pair of shoes hidden in Donnie's room since that was the last place Mikey would think of to snatch them from and hide them on her.

Moving towards the destruction around the desk area, she tilted her head questioningly at the broken computer and vials that had contained the cure Donnie had been working on. Just staring at it she muttered to herself and let out a soft "Hmm."

"Careful of the glass," Mikey's voice suddenly, unnecessarily, called from behind.

"Uh-huh," April replied absentmindedly taking, a pencil from the desk. She went to touch the monitor until she saw it was still plugged in, then jumped back, realising it could still be live. Shaking her head in disbelief, she walked over to the power box in the corner to turn it off.

One good thing was that Donnie had it set up that each part of the lab was on its own grid instead all on one. This made it easier to shut one part down in an emergency without affecting the rest. Once it was off, she went back, putting on some heavy-duty gloves and placing the broken computer monitor back on the desk where she looked it over before daring to go for the tower.

Mikey moved closer, skirting wide around the mess on the floor. Donnie was close behind, looking around curiously as he followed.

"What are you doing, Ape? It's totalled."

"Oh gee, Mikey, I didn't notice," April replied flatly. She bit her lip hard, leaving a mark behind as she grabbed the tower from under the desk and slid it forward before popping the side open to remove the hard drive.

With a painful moan, she sighed, tossing the piece of junk on the desk. "It's fried… All Donnie's work on it is gone… Unless he finally listened to me to back up his work elsewhere…" Access to the Cloud was long gone and last she knew, he hadn't found an alternative he liked considering he didn't have a spare external hard drive.

Letting out another sigh, she continued before Mikey could, "The monitor was smashed, not knocked over… someone purposely smashed it onto the desk before throwing it into the cure…This… this wasn't an accident."

"But why would anyone do that? Who would?" Mikey asked in shock, glancing down at Donnie whose face had taken on an emotionless appearance.

"I don't know... But I am going to find out," April took the gloves off, tossing them aside before moving to the security station.

"How? I know Donnie has cameras set up in here so he can record what he does but only he and Leo knew the password to access them and uh... neither one of them are going to know it now."

"Orange is a putrid colour," April answered him.

"Rude!" Mikey retorted, affronted. "Just because you have no taste! Why would you say that?"

Donnie huffed a small chuckle behind him before looking away quickly.

Trying not to laugh on how she figured Mikey would take it, she set to work getting into the system and stopped at the password it demanded. Looking over her shoulder, she pressed every key making sure Mikey could see what she was typing.

(O-r-a-n-g-e i-s a p-u-t-r-i-d c-o-l-o-r)

Then she pressed enter, allowing access to all the cameras, even ones Mikey had no clue existed, not just set up in the lab but throughout the lair as well, revealing that good old Donnie did indeed install them even in areas that were argued not to put them in.

Mikey stared in shock, "What?" He whipped his head around to stare at Donnie. "What? Dude! How could you use that as your password? That's so rude!" he repeated, affronted.

"I would gather because it is a password you would never guess and that's the whole idea of having a password," Donnie said flatly.

"Do you really think orange is a putrid colour?" Mikey asked in a small voice.

"It suits you," Donnie replied noncommittally.

"What kind of answer is that?"

Refusing to answer, Donnie sighed and walked closer to the security monitor, though he still stayed at arm's length from April.

"And seriously? I thought we all agreed, no cameras through the lair except at the entrances! Do you know how much Leo and Raph would've killed you over that if they knew?

I would too but I'm too charming and laid-back."

"Not to mention would show off any moment you got, from cross-dressing to who know what you come up with..." April pointed out drily. "The main point of the other cameras was to monitor all our behaviours and routines so…"

"Of course I would!" Mikey exclaimed indignantly. "You know how much I like attention and anyway, it would serve whoever was watching right!"

"Typical..." Donnie muttered petulantly. "Looks like nothing much changed in ten years."

"Wait a sec! What the shell do you mean 'monitor all our behaviours and routines'?" Mikey suddenly accused.

"Good question. I'd never do something like that!" Donnie protested in horror. "People don't really interest me that much, I prefer machines; which is something you'd know if we really were friends."

"I do know very well! And I also know you care about your brothers' wellbeing and they are not just any people!" April snarled aggressively. "It was your issue that brought this about. You were concerned what side effects that could accrue with the immunity agent that we worked on and you were afraid over the fact the incubation period wasn't fully studied. With the threat we were all under, you had no choice to make the call to inject all of us with it! We still don't even know if it works for certain since like hell anyone was willing to test it by going out and being deliberately bitten." April took a breath and forced her hand to stop shaking, she couldn't believe how insulted she felt at the moment and angry towards Donnie. Calmer, she continued, "So you wanted to be able to evaluate and monitor everyone's behaviour and routines to see any anomalies within them, to catch anything that could be life-threatening. Unfortunately, due to the fact telling everyone would only cause paranoia, especially with Mikey here," she thumbed, "and add more stress than needed, I came up with your solution to your problem, making a back door in the security system for which only you and I had access. Not even Leo knew about it and we were both taking turns monitoring and recording our findings and sharing them to see if either of us witnessed anything that was concerning!"

Taken aback by her vehemence, Donnie took a step backwards, bumping into Mikey and jumping in fright. "Immunity agent?" he questioned softly as Mikey's hands came up and rested on his shoulders, squeezing comfortingly. He didn't take his eyes off of April.

Sighing, April bit her lip again. "We had no choice but to do something what with fresh walking corpses coming towards the lair all the time and the threat of one bite meaning death… The cure to it was a pipe dream at the moment but finding an agent that in theory killed the virus before it affects our brains, killing us then reanimating our dead bodies seemed far easier to create." Closing her eyes she went silent, then continued, "You had the idea, we both worked on it, but it was when Mikey was almost bitten with a close call…you made… no…" April corrected herself, "it was me that pushed you to do it and then the call was made."

Mikey squeezed Donnie's shoulders tighter to the point he winced slightly. "Wait, is that because of what happened a month ago when I got separated from Leo and Raph on the surface?"

Donnie glanced up at him.

Nodding slowly, April didn't look at him, staring at the monitors and unable to look back in fear of what she would find.

"Do you think the inoculation might have had something to do with what happened to my bros?" Mikey asked as Donnie stayed silent, thinking about what April had just said. "You know, 'cause it was untested?"

"If that was so, we would have some similar side effects. Both of us are the same age as we were and remember everything to this point, so I don't believe so," April pointed out.

Nodding and not wanting to let go of his brother, Mikey steered Donnie with him as he walked closer to April and the security station. "If you have control of the cameras in here, can you look to see what happened in here then?"

"I can…" April took a breath and activated the correct recording, rewinding quickly to the time after they left.

"Donnie, we don't know what we will see on there, but something obviously happened in here."

Donnie fixed Mikey with a look that on anyone else would have said 'Duh!'

Mikey sighed and scratched lightly at his face. "What I'm trying to say is, you don't have to watch, bro, especially if it will make you upset or uncomfortable."

Donnie pulled away and stepped up close to April, showing how determined he was to see this through. To find out what happened and why he and his now little brothers were so messed up.

"Thanks but I have to watch this," he said flatly. "I have to know I'm not losing my mind by merely believing in this insane fantasy..."

"Okay," Mikey nodded reluctantly.

Winding through the videos it wasn't until Raph woke up and came in that April started to slow them down and the three watched as the horrifying events unfolded before their eyes. As they saw the rage over them not being back yet, April slumped in her chair swallowing hard, this was her and Mikey's fault; they should have been here, they should have been back on time. The feed continued, coming to its terrifying climax and they all saw Raph smashing the computer into the cure.

They watched as first Leo dragged Raph away, making it nearly to the door and then as Donnie burst in, horror on his olive-green face. They saw him dragging first Leo outside before coming back for Raph. It was difficult to see through the haze caused by the mixed chemicals in the room but they watched as Donnie too collapsed, just inside the door. Soon after, as the haze began to clear, the two turtles on camera began to shrink as their ages reversed, their agony through the change obvious despite their unconscious states.

Having finally seen the proof of his theory, it was all Donnie could do to stay on his feet. Finally able to tear his eyes away from the computer monitor, he looked from Mikey to April and back again. "It's really true. We really did..." He turned back to April with horror in his eyes, "And you really are... Oh, shell... What do we do now?"

-:-

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