Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Remutated

Chapter 6: Return to New York

Another two weeks had passed for the group as they stayed at the farm house.

At last, Leo came to check on Raph again and see how he was doing.

As Leo sat next to the tub, he heard a groan.

"Ngh, what the Hell?"

Leo asked, "huh? Who said that?"

Leo looked, and saw a sight he had been hoping to see for weeks. Raphael was awake, clutching his head slightly

Leo asked, "Raph? How are you feeling...?"

Raph rubbed his head and replied, "I feel like I got hit by a truck."

In his excitement, Leo got to his feet and ran downstairs.

"GUYS", he shouted, "RAPH IS AWAKE! HE FINALLY WOKE UP!"

The others quickly ran after Leo upstairs to see the most gruff turtle finally among the waking world once more.

"Get him some food", Leo called as he heard the others' footsteps coming upstairs.

Mikey instantly ran to the kitchen and grabbed some leftovers.

"Listen, Raph….", said Leo, "I've just been sittin' here, brooding about this all the time when it looked like you might not…. Well, you know. I wanted to tell you…. About what I said that day about not needing you and all, I.…"

In reply, Raph reached up and put an arm around Leo's shoulders. He did not need to listen. He understood how Leo felt…. How they both felt. They remained that way for a few moments, silently embracing, two brothers happily reunited.

The rest of the group shared a happy and warm reunion with Raph. Mikey had nearly squeezed his brother back to sleep!

"It's a Kodak moment", Donnie smiled, wiping his eyes.

"Aw, yeah", Zach exclaimed, "the fearsome 4 are back for sure!"

Raph looked at Zach and said, "hey, you guys are a part of this team too. You helped save my shell after the Foot kicked it!"

"Well, alrighty then", Zach grinned.

It was a touching moment, seeing the group reunite like this.

But the team still had to prepare to return to New York. And Raph had to get back to his full fighting skills.

About two days later, we see the Turtles standing together on the porch of the house while their human companions spoke.

"Now that you're back in action, we need to get you back in fighting shape", explained Irma.

"Not to mention, if we're gonna make sure the Foot breaks their legs, we need to gear up", Zach added.

April brought out the new gear for the group.

Each of them looked over the new gear that had been made for them.

April had a yellow and black jumpsuit that matched her weapons color.

Zach had detailed looking samurai armor.

Donnie had special goggles and a bo-staff that could extend and compress.

Mikey's nunchucks now had retractable sickle-blades on the ends.

Raph's sai could now combine together into a staff of sorts.

Leo had longer blades that when struck together formed an electric current, thanks to some tinkering from Donnie.

Casey was given a more fierce looking mask, and a new metal baseball bat.

And what did Irma get?

Battle armor!

Yes, battle armor!

A light blue armor very similar to something the Foot Clan would wear, but the symbol it bore was that of Splinter's clan.

The Hamato emblem shone proudly upon its surface.

And with that, training once again took priority.

Our heroes take the next two weeks to train with their new gear, as if waiting for some sort of signal for them to return to New York….

….

Meanwhile, in the home of the Foot Clan.

We once again see the bruised and bloodied Splinter tied up.

But then, he heard someone approach.

Splinter looked up to see two young girls approach.

Karai and her friend, Shinigami.

Splinter managed to cough out, "... Who are you...?"

Karai replied, "friends. Who are you, poor creature? What has Master Shredder done to you?"

Splinter coughed out, "his…. Interrogation…."

Shinigami asked, "but why? Why would he harm a creature such as you?"

"In my youth, I was once Hamato Yoshi, of the Foot Clan", Splinter managed to say.

Karai clarified, "you were one of us?"

Splinter nodded before continuing with, "I was once close to two of my fellow members. Arogu Nagi, and Aroku Saki. Once, we were like brothers. But as the years went on, we became bitter rivals."

Karai and Shinigami shared a sad look as Splinter continued.

"The lynchpin in this was a young woman named Tang Shen…. I cared for her deeply, but so did Nagi", Splinter sighed, "in the end, I suppose our competition is what drove her away."

Shinigami asked, "what happened next?"

Splinter replied, "eventually, I left the Foot Clan behind. I changed myself into a better man. More honourable. I formed my own clan; the Hamato clan. I one day reunited with my beloved Tang Shen."

Karai and Shinigami smiled at that.

Splinter continued with, "but when she chose me... It drove Nagi to do something horrific."

"You don't mean, he….", Karai gasped.

"He took his own life in anguish", Splinter sighed, "and this filled Saki with grief, and hatred."

Shinigami asked, "what happened next?"

Splinter took a moment before he continued with, "Tang Shen and I started a family. We had a daughter…. Our little Miwa. But then…. Aroku Saki came one night…. Seeking one thing…. Revenge…. He attacked me in our bedroom; and Tang Shen leapt in to protect me…. But at the cost of her own life."

Karai and Shinigami gasped in shock.

Karai asked, "and…. Your daughter?"

Splinter looked down with tears in his eyes and said, "I have no idea. I assume she perished in the flames. Saki set fire to our home. There, we began a furious battle. He managed to cut a chunk of my ear away after I scratched his face in. The burning ruins of our home fell upon me. The last thing I saw that night, as I was trapped under the remains of my home, was Saki limping away into the darkness. And only now, years later, do I finally know what happened to him."

Shinigami and Karai glanced at each other, sharing a look before they turned back to Splinter.

"We're sorry that happened to you", Karai said, saddened.

Splinter replied, "it is not your fault. Long have I accepted what happened, and learned to move on from it. I am lucky enough to have raised four amazing boys in the last few years."

"We could get you out of here", suggested Shinigami, "help you recover…. Those ARE some nasty-looking bruises."

Splinter replied, "before we can do that…. Someone must deal with the Shredder and his warriors. I need to contact my sons. Their friends. Only they can stand against such a threat to New York."

"I think I could help", Shinigami suggested.

Splinter looked at Shinigami with a hopeful expression.

….

Back at the farm house.

Leo was meditating on the front porch, hearing the peace and quiet all around him.

But then, to his surprise, there came a most unusual sound; it was unexpected, but it came in, clear as a bell.

'Leonardo….', came Splinter's voice.

Suddenly, Leo's body stiffened as if he'd just been hit with an electric shock. He could briefly make out the vision of Splinter's battered, bruised form…. But he definitely sensed his presence.

Leo gasped, "Splinter!"

He also saw some form of instructions. To start a fire that night. For what purpose, Leo didn't know yet. But he would soon!

Leo dashed inside to tell the others what he had seen.

Mikey was watching TV, Donnie and April were snuggling on the couch, Raph was reading, while Irma, Zach and Casey are playing go-fish.

Leo suddenly burst into the house, "SPLINTER…. SPLINTER'S ALIVE", he gasped, wheezing.

He turns off the TV, trying to get all of their attention.

"Of course, Leo…. We all think he's alive", replied Donnie, patting him on the shoulder.

"I don't think, I know", Leo exclaimed.

Everyone looked at Leo in shock at what he had just said.

….

Later that night, the turtles were all sitting around a campfire.

Raph was sceptical. He had heard Leo's story, but he found it hard to believe in mysticism. It was easier to accept that Leo's desperate hope that Splinter was alive had caused him to hallucinate.

"Leo….", he said, "... have you dragged us all the way out here just to sit around a campfire?"

"Don't worry; I came prepared", interjected Mike, who pulled out a bag of marshmallows.

Leo looked at him sternly, "put those away", he hissed.

Mikey did so with a glum expression.

Leo continued, "now, just do what I told you. Everybody close their eyes…. Clear your mind. Go beyond thinking."

The others looked at one another, then at Leo. He had quickly resumed his traditional role as team leader. They shrugged and bowed their heads, meditating as he suggested.

As they did so, the fire began to glow blue, slowly changing shape, as if to communicate something. Then, it suddenly roared to life, high up, but slowly grew back down.

In an instant, Splinter's translucent image appeared above the glimmer of the fire! The Turtles gasped, but their eyes remained closed. The image of their master was not in front of them; it was inside their heads.

They heard his voice reaching to them across hundreds of miles, and they listened awestruck.

"I am proud of you, my sons", he said, "tonight, you have learned the final and greatest secret of ninjutsu; that ultimate mastery is not of the body, but of the mind."

None of the Turtles spoke. They hardly dared breathe, in case anything should disturb the entrancing state that had brought Splinter's image to them. He continued, his familiar calm wisdom restoring the fighting spirit they had lost since the Foot attack:

"Together, there is nothing the four of you cannot accomplish. Help each other. Draw upon one another…."

The image started to fade, but they could still hear his words.

"…. And always remember the true force that bonds you. It is the same force that brought me here tonight. I return it gladly with my final words: I love you all, my sons…."

They opened their eyes as the last echoes of Splinter's voice diminished and got lost in the sighing of the night wind. Mikey had only cried once before in his life, that day in the barn, when rage at his helplessness got the better of him. This time he shed tears unashamedly. He cried the hardest as Raph hugged his little brother to calm him down.

For a long time, until the moon set and the embers of the fire died away, the four brothers sat together in profound silence.

….

The next day, the turtles called together their human companions to stand in front of the barn.

April asked, "guys, what's going on?"

Zach added, "yeah, why'd you call us all here?"

Raph was the first to say, "we got a message last night."

Donnie continued with, "a very important one."

Irma asked, "from who?"

Mikey replied with a shaky voice, "Master Splinter."

That silenced everyone as they were in shock.

Leo then said, "it's time. We have to return to New York."

Raph, "it's time to return home."

Donnie, "it's time to stop the Foot Clan."

Mikey, "and to save the city."

Their human companions all nodded.

They were ready!

Over the next few hours, they all gathered what they would need for when they returned to New York city to fight the Shredder and his forces.

Their weapons, their clothes, etc.

Each Turtle had added something new to their looks.

Markings to show their skill.

Leo received two blue slash marks over his eyes.

Raph received a red handprint over his right shoulder.

Donnie received a purple swirl over his left shoulder.

Mikey received yellow splat marks over the tops of his hands.

Zach wore his samurai armor, while April wore her yellow and black jumpsuit.

Irma wore her blue battle armor, and Casey had all of his gear strapped to him.

And with that, they all piled into the truck, and began the drive back to their home.

Ready for the fight of their lives….

….

Reviews:

Patrick Star: no Patrick, mayonnaise is not an instrument.

Jinero: it's fine. And happy 4th of July to you too! Also, Laird 03 is supposed to be a robot Donnie built. And it's name is a reference to one of the comic creators' names. Eastman and Laird. Zach's last name is also a reference to this.

Stegosaurus1412: I wish I had used the line at the beginning of your review to end this chapter! I'm glad you ended it. I'm glad you're on board for this story. And yeah, I thought a voice cast listing would be a great idea. Roasting is what I love to do. I'm glad you like my versions of the turtles, Zach, and I hope you'll like what I have in store!

Amanny: I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter and the romantic moment. To solve the code, simply switch the letters out.

Shakespeare1994: I'm glad this ship made you so happy. The next turtle romance will probably be either Leo x Karai or Raph x Mona Lisa. Karai will soon learn the truth.

jurassicdinodrew: well, in most of my stories, I like to get the love confessions out of the way sooner than later. And I'm glad you're excited for more.

….

I'm quite happy with how this story is playing out.

And I'm super excited to do the battle for New York! I hope to make the battle an epic one!