A/n: Uhhh... Read the author's note at the beginning of the story 'High' for explanation. That's all I'd like to say.

Turtles are fifteen.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters.

Stalemate

They had started out this game alone, just the two of them against each other. As the round progressed, the others caught an interest while passing by and gradually gathered around to watch the two brothers play the game of Chess.

Leo versus Donnie. The strategist against the genuis. It was fair game and both had been playing well for quite a while. Till that moment, that is.

It was Donatello's turn and he was stuck in a sort of stalemate. Leo had him trapped and any move he thought up would've led him to lose. Any plausible move he would think up for any piece, he backtracked in his mind and change it at picturing the possible outcome, over and over. They were all landing him in trouble.

On the opposite side of the board, Leo's mouth twitched up in a small smirk, the ninja sure that his younger brother was stuck now. Well, there was one move that could slightly change the course of game in his sibling's favour but he knew the other didn't see it. He knew how Donnie thinks and he knew Donnie wouldn't realise about that move and use it for his adventage. Afterall, it just involved a pawn on the side of the board, the possible strategic move very discreet and unseen since it was to act as a sort of diversion to pull away the Knight.

Biting the inside of his lip and thinking hard on what to do, the purple-clad ninja suddenly recalled one of the rules they had made up for Chess just for fun; The Switch. It was sort of a bonus which allowed a player to call a switch, only once in the game, so that they could select anyone from the audience to play in their stead if they were stuck.

Like an epiphany had hit him, Donatello smiled, his tooth-gap showing.

"Switch."

The eldest turtle, who was sure of his victory and was leaning back with an air of smugness, hadn't expected his brother to pull the switch card however, having forgotten about the bonus altogether, "Wha-?"

"Sensei. I switch with Sensei."

"No! But-! This isn't fair!" Leo panicked, well aware that if his father were to play against him, he'd lose big time.

"You made this rule," Donnie cheekily pointed out.

Splinter smiled under his whiskers as he silently took Donatello's place, pulling the exact same move Leonardo dreaded, moving that pawn. He ignored the panicked rambles that were coming from the blue-masked turtle and the frustrated groan that sounded afterwards.

It was Leo's turn now, and now he was stuck in a stalemate.

Looking over the board, Leonardo knew he was screwed if he didn't pull up a smart move but he hadn't expected this! He hadn't planned for this. Grabbing his head, he stared dispondently at the pieces, not knowing what to do and annoyed that his brother had declared a Switch, with Splinter of all people and-

He blinked, eyes widening as he suddenly got a lightbulb moment and he let out a grin, all traces of frustration gone from his face and posture.

"Switch."

"Hm?" His new opponent raised an eyebrow at the sudden decision, not catching on to where he was going with this. Leo didn't falter and turned to face his brothers, "I switch with Donnie."

"What?!" the purple-masked ninja squeaked in a mixture of shock and disbelief, "It doesn't work that way!"

" 'Anyone in the audience', " Leo quoted the phrase from their made-up bonus. "There is no rule saying I can't switch with the previous opponent who had switched their place."

"But-"

"Hey, he's right!" Mikey pitched in just to be annoying, draping an arm over the seething genius' shell. "Oooh, Donnie, you're in troooouubleeee~"

Donnie groaned, making his brothers grin in amusement. They could read him like a book, and they could see that his ego wouldn't allow him to lose against Splinter.

"If Sensei beats you, you lose. If you beat him, you still lose because he happens to be in your original position." He shrugged, "Its a win-win for me either way."

"Dang it..."

As Donatello sat down in Leo's place with an annoyed frown, Mikey smirked as he elbowed the red-masked turtle beside him and held out his hand.

"Pay up."

There was some shifting, the sound of grumbles, and then a ten dollar bill found its way in Michelangelo's hand. The fist bump that the youngest and eldest shared just a second later went unnoticed by the others.

A/n : At first I was gonna have Leo switch with Raph and show that he knows chess too. But then this idea hit and it's a lot funnier. XD

P.S. You guys wanna add that Switch bonus to your game next time you play it? Go right on ahead. It can work for any board game really and not just Chess. Oh, and if the switch bonus is added, those who are watching the game aren't allowed to give hints or help out by advising the next move.