Here we go, Season Three. *sigh* Two down, two to go. Apollo, Marcus's younger brother, is voiced by Bradley Steven Perry. And, some of you probably know that Leonardo is now voiced by Seth Green from here on out.
I'll never forget the night we left New York City. The Kraang defeated us. I (Marcus) got badly hurt. Master Splinter is... Gone. We lost. Clash and his dragons actually succeeded in exiling every last Pokémon in the city. Good luck with that when they're in Kraang country now. Kirā probably revealed himself to them by now. I can't believe he has an acapella group. How did he do that? And for the record, he planned on exiling Pokemon, so why does his acapella group consist of musically talented Pokemon?
The gang had Gabby stay with them, since she had no real place to go to, and staying in New York City would be, as she puts it, "a death wish." Kijani made it with them, too. But what hurts the most is that Kingsley, my dad, was nowhere to be found. I'm hoping he didn't mutate. Him and the rest of my team. We had to leave them behind. We tried our best, and succeeded, to take Loche and Sanderson with us without any of Clash's dragons noticing.
The gang had nowhere else to go. So they went to the old farmhouse April grew up in. A place where they can all be safe.
The first thing they did was take care of my severely injured body. I watched in my ghost form as the set my body inside of a bathtub. I was on my side, my paw on the rim of the tub. Evidently, it was filled with warm water. It might weaken my internal flame a little.
Raphael, Gabby, and sometimes even Leonardo would keep a constant vigil over me, waiting for me to wake up. Michelangelo goofs off a lot but does a lot around the place. Donatello built a lab inside the barn. Casey, well... He does his own thing.
And there's her, April O'Neil. She spends most of her time training with the turtles. Hoping I will wake up and return home. If there's a home to return to. But life, as Master Splinter would say, must continue on.
And as for me, Marcus, I've been watching over everyone for, I lost track of how long. But Gabby hasn't slept once. And one day, her anxiety over me has been revealed.
"The universe built us a horrible hand, Michelangelo!" Gabby shouts like she was using Obstruct. She nearly scratches Michelangelo. "Hey!" Raphael said, pulling the aggressive Sumatran tigress mutant away from his little brother.
Gabby held up her hand, ready to scratch Raphael. "I don't want to hear what you have to say!" She shouted. Raphael just stands there shocked like the rest of them. "Marcus might never wake up! You of all people should know that!"
"Gabby, listen—" Leonardo was cut off. "No, Leonardo, you listen! For once, don't act like you're the only one to blame like you usually do! I don't have to take orders from you! Get that in that stupid brain of yours!"
"Just because you're Marcus's friend, that doesn't mean he's the only one you have to take orders from!" Leonardo shouts back. This only adds fuel to Gabby's raging fire.
"I can change that!" Gabby barks, swiping her claws at Leonardo's throat. Leonardo barely dodges the attack. "Hey! Calm down, will ya?" Raphael barks.
"Like you're one to talk! You let your anger control you most of the time!" Gabby screams at the top of her lungs. Everyone was staring at her in shock. Kijani sighs. "Marcus will wake up. I swear it. He's a strong guy. He can take a hit."
The next thing we knew, Gabby grunts and storms off, if I had to guess, to the bathroom to check on me. Raphael went with her, presumably feeling bad for her.
Gabby was in the living room, apologizing to everyone for exploding earlier. Raphael is sitting on a stool next to me. "Please... Wake up, Marcus. Gabby's getting worse. Getting even more restless. Everyone needs you. I need you."
My body was aching all over. But I wasn't unable to move. I slowly open my eyes. Raphael's eyes widened. "Marcus!" He whisper shouts, taking my head into his hand. I lean into it, purring. "I missed you so, Raphael." I whisper. "Marcus, if we're gonna have more close calls like this, then—"
"Say no more, Raphael." I cut him off. "I just want to see everyone else."
"Granted." Raphael said. He calls everyone in the bathroom. And by everyone, I mean Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Perfect.
I get attacked by a hug from Michelangelo. I returned it. He's softly crying in my shoulder. Donatello hugs me slightly tighter, crying a bit harder than Michelangelo. "It's okay. Calm down. You're not old enough to have a heart attack." Donatello pulls away with a laugh and a relieved smile.
All that was left was Leonardo...
He cupped my face in his hands gently and pressed his forehead against mine. "You saved my life." He whispers, tears in his eyes. "You're very welcome." I reply. Leonardo smiles, and with a sob, carries me out of the bathtub and gives me a tight hug.
"I thought I'd never see you again." Leonardo said. I know what he meant. "Yet here we are." I whisper, adding humor to this reunion. The rest of the boys gather around us, engaging in a group hug.
I was sitting on the couch after I got attacked with more hugs. One from April and one from Gabby. Steele rubs himself against me like a cat. Donatello was checking my heartbeat. "I was out for three months? And I thought I was a fast healer." I said miserably.
"You had us worried sick, man. Raphael and I never slept." Gabby said. "Really? But-" She cuts me off.
"I'm a Sumatran tigress. I don't need sleep. I need my friend back." Gabby rests her head on my shoulder. "I missed you, man." Gabby said. Never thought I'd hear that from her mouth. I grin. "Thanks." Gabby grins back.
"Hey, Leonardo, I just noticed, you sound different." I said. "He's sustained damage to his throat. But for you, almost everywhere else for that matter." Donatello said. He holds up a spoon with some white stuff on it. Looks like Pop Rocks. "What the heck is this?" I ask after sniffing it. "Some of my special patented mutagen medicine."
"Really? Smells bad." He slowly pushes the spoon toward me. Oh, come on! I'm not a child! You know what, I'm injured, what have I got to lose? Reluctantly, I take the medicine stuff into my mouth. Oh my god, it tastes as good as it smells! And it does not smell good!
I felt like throwing up the second I swallowed it. "Ugh. Tastes terrible. No offense." I said, nauseated. "Not taken." Donatello said. I have an excellent immune system. Even if so, my digestive system might not be able to take much more of, whatever I just put in my mouth.
I stick my tongue out, as if I was yawning. "I can't get the taste out of my mouth!" I complain. "Oh, quit your whining. You're fine. It won't be the end of the world of you throw up." Gabby said like she just told her favorite joke.
"You're right. No need to worry about me. I'm a survivor." I said. "That's the Marcus we know and love," Raphael said, putting an arm around me. "But that doesn't mean you shouldn't rest." He adds.
"I know."
I know I should be resting, but Raphael talked me into "building up those muscles." I was at a creek when I drop to my knees. I saw a nearby Passho Berry. I took it and ate it, hoping it would help me.
It didn't.
An overpowering wave of nausea came over me. I start retching like a cat about to throw up. Raphael, hearing my retching from the other side, ran to me. "Are you okay?" Raphael asks me. "Let me tell you one thing; That was NOT from the medicine Donatello gave me." I said after I threw up.
Lava pours out of my mouth. It was a paler color than it should be. Nothing (much) was set on fire, thank god. But I need to get back to the farmhouse as soon as possible. I don't need muscles right now, I need rest.
Narrator's POV
A blue male tiger with gray stripes notices a medium red and orange puddle of something on the side of the creek. It burns him upon contact. The blue male tiger with gray stripes purrs in confusion.
"A puddle of lava in the middle of the woods?" He said, confused. "But who, or what, did it come from?"
The tiger heard a roar from a few feet away. He looked beyond the hill and saw a yellow male tiger with black stripes, accompanied by a mutant turtle and a red tigress with white stripes.
"What do I do?" He asks himself. As if on cue, a Primarina, a Suicine, a Blastoise, an elderly Samurott, and a Vaporeon come to his aid. "We attack these terrapins at dusk. We will not let these trespassers take over my, our, part of the forest."
Marcus's POV
I was sitting near the fireplace, thinking to myself. "I still can't believe I was out for three months. I guess I'm not as fast as a healer I thought I was." I couldn't help but said. "Three months should have been two weeks at least. And Master Splinter... Perhaps he isn't really gone."
"We saw it happen. Shredder threw him down a drainpipe." Donatello said. "I may have been unconscious, but I witnessed it, too. He is the greatest ninja master." I sigh. "The greatest in a century, even."
"Agreed." Kijani said.
I was thinking more to myself. A dangerous pastime, I know. But the electricity going out scares the living crap out of me. "It's just a blown fuse. I'll fix it in two shakes of a turtle's tail." Donatello said. Thinking smart, I wag my tail twice. "There. Is it done yet?" I ask. The boys laugh. "You're hilarious, Marcus." Raphael said, still laughing. "I try." I said.
Raphael opened up an arm. "C'mere." He said. I get up and plop myself against him. He positions us so that I'm sitting between his legs, and my back is resting in Raphael's plastron. He starts rubbing my belly. I purr in content.
I was so relaxed, I didn't even notice the fireplace go out. "What the hey?" I said. "Looks like we need more firewood." Raphael said, getting up to go outside.
He never came back.
Raphael's POV
Raphael hears a noise from the woods. He takes out his sais. A hostile looking Primarina lunges at him. She misses. Raphael goes to attack her, but the Primarina summons a whirlpool, trapping Raphael, who was struggling to escape. "Gabby, a little help would be nice, please!"
Gabby saw the entire scene unfold before him. Unfortunately, the Primarina notices her, too. She forms a blue ball of water and chucks it at Gabby. She throws a Shadow Ball at it. The two collide, causing an explosion. When the smoke clears, the Primarina is gone.
But then she sees another mutant. It looks like a gigantic plant or something wearing overalls, with thick vines for hands and small, beady eyes. It scares Gabby half to death. She runs away and hides. She completely forgets about Raphael. She hears a scream, which just scares Gabby even more. She can't bring herself to look. "It's like I'm living a horror movie..." She whispered.
Narrator's POV
Donatello and Michelangelo hear growling. Michelangelo jumps. "What was that?" He said. The Blastoise crawls out of the bushes. "What the?" Donatello asks. The Blastoise lunges at them. Michelangelo screams and runs away. Donatello is left with the Blastoise. Donatello gawks at him. "You're gorgeous." He whispers.
The Blastoise isn't discouraged. He lunges and freezes Donatello's arm with Ice Beam, ice spreading through it. Donatello screams in pain and eventually the Blastoise stops. "Whoa..." Donatello whispers.
Michelangelo nearly trips over a blue doglike Pokémon. The Suicune wraps his ribbon-like tails around Michelangelo's arm. Thinking smart, Michelangelo pulls the Suicune towards him. The Suicune is thrown in the opposite direction, resulting in the unraveling of his tails and Michelangelo's escape.
The Vaporeon is hidden, ready to attack his soon to be prey. Which just happens to be April and Casey. With puppy dog eyes, the Vaporeon walks up to April and Casey. "Aww. Look how cute—" The Vaporeon growls and uses Hydro Pump, blowing Casey away.
The Vaporeon barks at April and grabs her by the leg. April called out to Leonardo, who was dealing with a tiger. Leonardo manages to throw the tiger off his shell. "Who are you?" He asks.
"That's for me to know and you to find out." The blue and gray male said. He smashes his paws together, and a pulse of water is blasted towards Leonardo. He was soaking wet. Everyone (except Raphael) retreated back to the farmhouse.
Marcus's POV
I was resting in the farmhouse, ready to fall asleep. "If it makes you feel any better, at least you don't have any broken bones or anything." Gabby said, trying to add some light to the situation. "Yeah, I guess."
"Hey, don't be so down in the dumps." Gabby said. "You'll be back on your feet before you know it." I can always count on Gabby to help me feel better. Everyone comes back inside, but no Raphael in sight. Plus, everyone looked soaking wet.
"What happened to everyone?" Kijani asks them. "Water type Pokémon." They all said. "A mutant tiger." Leonardo said. I raise an eyebrow. "Other than me and Gabby?" I ask. "That's what I was thinking!" Leonardo said. I notice Donatello's half frozen arm.
"You first, Donatello. What did you encounter?"
"A Blastoise."
"Michelangelo?"
"It was some kind of dog. It had ribbons for tails and some kind of purple rain cloud on his back." That'd be a Suicune.
"April? Casey?"
"A Vaporeon that knew Hydro Pump."
"Leonardo, the mutant tiger?"
"Blue with gray stripes and orange eyes."
Gabby spoke up. "I saw the Pokémon that attacked Raphael. It was a Primarina."
"So you all got attacked by Water type Pokémon, AND a mutant tiger?"
"Do they ring a bell?" Leonardo asks. "He sounds awfully familiar. Like the little brother I lost a long time ago... I'll go out and see this tiger." I said, having no trouble standing up. "Like it isn't bad enough that Clash and his dragons got away with exiling every last Pokémon from the city."
"You should be resting." Leonardo and Donatello said in unison. "You guys are more important. You guys, stay out of the woods and find Raphael. I'll find the tiger and sort this out." I order.
I was quietly walking through the woods, keeping my nose up. He could be anywhere... Even—
An Ice Beam hit my shoulder. I looked to my left and saw nothing. I heard a Thunder crash down on me. I dodged it in time. A wet paw is swiped across my face.
I wiped the water off my face and saw that I was staring down at a blue mutant tiger, looking almost exactly like me, except slightly smaller, with gray stripes and orange eyes. He draws out something that looks like a scalchop from Oshawott and Dewott. It was Razor Shell. He attacks first, roaring with his Razor Shell in hand. Time to settle this like real tigers!
An unfriendly sword fight match ensued. Scalchops were flying across the clearing, and my roars could be heard from miles away. No one was injured in the long time this fight took.
I'm pinned down by the blue and gray male. I squint my eyes. Is that really him? Blue fur with gray stripes and orange eyes, knows Water type moves, fights with Razor Shells and metal claws, has no roar, like the Basenji dog that has no bark...
"Apollo?"
The blue and gray male tiger's eyes widened. He got off of me. "Who are you, and how do you know my name?" He asks. "It's me, Marcus. I'm your brother, remember?" I ask him. "We got separated from the Kraang when we were about two. We haven't seen each other since." The tiger gives me an astonished look. "Marcus?" I nod. He stood there for a moment. Next thing I knew, I'm pounced on. I looked up and saw who I thought was my brother, Apollo.
"I thought I'd never see you again..." That's it. It's Apollo. I throw my arms around him. He's crying softly on my shoulder. I stroke his back. We pull away for a moment to stare into his orange eyes. I notice his tail wagging when he pulls me towards him, sending me on the ground. And for the next few minutes, we spend the time play wrestling, ecstatic to see each other again.
Okay, time to get serious. "You haven't attacked four mutant turtles tonight, have you?" I asked. "I have," Apollo said. "How'd you know?" I had a lot of explaining to do. I told him everything. From my first time meeting Gabby, to our first fight with the Shredder. I told him about the Kraang, how they invaded, I told them about all of the friends we made... Everything.
"So, let me get this straight; you've been in New York City this whole time, and you never even bothered to come looking for me?" Apollo asked, sounding hurt. "It's not that I didn't bother, I thought you were gone." I admit. Apollo makes a trilling noise and gives me another hug. "I thought you were gone, too. After we got separated by the Kraang all those years ago..."
"I feel you. But you don't have to worry anymore. I'm here. I'm sorry I wasn't there before." We were both thinking the same thing; a reunion song that fits perfectly.
[Verse 1: Apollo]
Nobody listens to me,
Don't hear a single thing I've said,
Say anything to soothe me,
Anything to get you from my head,
Don't know how really I feel,
'Cause it's the faith that makes it like I don't care,
Don't know how much it hurts to turn around like you were never there,
Like somehow you could be replaced,
And I could walk away from the promises we made,
And swore we'd never break,
[Chorus: Apollo + Marcus]
I thought I lost you when you ran away to try to find me,
I thought I'd never see your sweet face again!
I turned around and you were gone, and on, and on the days went,
But I kept the moments that we were in,
'Cause I hoped in my heart, you'd come back to me, my friend,
And now I got you!
But I thought I lost you!
[Verse 2: Marcus]
I felt so empty out there,
And there were days I had my doubts,
But I knew I'd find you somewhere,
Because I knew I couldn't live without you in my life for one more day,
And I swore I'd never break a promise that we made,
[Chorus: Apollo + Marcus]
I thought I lost you when you ran away to try to find me,
I thought I'd never see your sweet face again,
I turned around and you were gone, and on, and on the days went,
But I kept the moments that we were in,
'Cause I hoped in my heart, you'd come back to me, my friend,
And now I got you!
But I thought I lost you!
[Bridge: Marcus + Apollo + Both]
I told myself I wouldn't sleep 'til I searched the world from sea to sea,
I made a wish upon a star,
I turned around, and there you were,
And now here we are, are,
Here we are,
[Breakdown: Apollo + Marcus]
I thought I lost you (I thought I lost you too),
I thought I lost you (I thought I lost you),
Yeah
[Chorus: Apollo + Marcus]
I thought I lost you when you ran away to try to find me,
I thought I'd never see your sweet face again,
I turned around and you were gone, and on, and on the days went,
But I kept the moments that we were in,
'Cause I hoped in my heart, you'd come back to me, my friend,
And now I got you!
But I thought I lost you!
Our song ending, we share another hug, ecstatic to see each other again after a solid sixteen years. I really did think I lost him. He ran away to try to find me. I never thought I'd see his sweet face again. His sweet, innocent, childish face. That song fits this reunion perfectly.
"Aww!"
I turned around and saw the boys, and Gabby, standing there. "You know what, I'm not gonna ask how long you guys were standing there." I said, half amused. "You've met my brother." Gabby said. "Wait, brother?" I ask her. "I knew you and Apollo escaped from the Bronx Zoo all those years ago, and believe it or not, so did I. The only family I actually had left was you and Apollo. I came to the city so I could learn how to adapt, so when you found Apollo, he'd have an idea of what living in the city is like."
"So that means... You're my sister?" I ask her, still stunned. "Biologically, yeah, I am." I think I'm gonna break down. And I thought I didn't have a tiger for a sister. I was about to walk over to give her a hug, but she beat me to it. Trying so damn hard not to break down into tears, I return her hug, putting all the love and protection I could into it. Apollo, in tears of happiness, joins the hug. I put an arm around him. I'm pretty sure the three boys were trying not to cry themselves.
"Oh, um while you're here, we're having a bit of a monster problem." Apollo said. "Monster? What kind of monster?" I ask, confused. I hear stomping and, some sort of dark green mutant wearing overalls is in my line of sight. "What in the Pridelands?!" I exclaim, shocked and confused at the same time. The boys scream while Gabby stares at it.
"That one!" Apollo said, scared to death. He grabs my arm in fear. "Michelangelo," I ask. "Yeah?" I hear for an answer. "What do you call that thing?" I'm backing away. "How's 'The Creep?'" He asks. "Perfect. Now, I suggest that we all remain calm and just-GAH!"
I completely forgot about the Creep. It was right behind me. I attack it at the nick of time, but it doesn't seem to have done any damage. "Okay? How about this!" Claws unsheathed, I light my fists on fire and attack the mutant with a series of punches.
How is this not doing anything?!
I use Close Combat until I can't use it any more. The Creep just knocks me away. When it comes for me again, it stops abruptly. What's he staring at? I turn around and see that my torch is lit. Oh, better get it off the grass before it causes a wildfire!
I pick it up. The Creep just stares. Wait a second. I just thought of something. As gross as it sounds, I think this guy was made out of my, uh, puke, which had not just mutagen in it, but lava and fire are the same thing! Oh shoot, now he's inching towards me.
He lunges, but I hop out of the way. "Hey, Creep!" I shout to grab his attention. "I got the torch! You, you want it?" I give him a hard glare. "Come and get it." Okay, now he's walking towards me. "Apollo!" I throw my torch, and Apollo catches it. The Creep turns to him. Please don't run away...
He inhales and uses a Water Gun in the Creep's face. He takes the time to throw it to Gabby, who uses Rock Tomb to prevent its movement. This has got to be the most dangerous game of 'keep away' I've ever played.
Apollo's eyes are closed when I'm behind him. He opens his eyes, which flash a bright blue. A vicious wave is summoned from behind him. That must be Surf. The Creep is drenched and unable to move. "That should hold him for a while." Apollo said.
"Do you think you can fix Raphael, Donatello?" I ask. "Honestly, I don't know." Donatello admits. "I just don't know." He said, leaving us all depressed.
After being up all night, Donatello managed to fix Raphael. I put his mask back on. "What the heck is going on?" He asks. "A crazy swamp monster sucked out your mutagen and turned you into a plant, dude. It was awesome! " Casey said. "We have enough mutants as it is." Gabby said.
"But I used this IV tube to drain all the mutagen out of the Creep and back into your body. Cool, right? Killed off the infection like a bad case of Shellacne." Donatello explains. "He's back in his jar now. I don't think we'll be seeing him again for a while." Apollo said, proud of himself.
"Donatello worked all night to save you." I place my paw on top of Raphael's. "Leonardo and I never left your side." I leaned over so Raphael could turn to Leonardo, who was sitting down. "That's what brothers are for." Leonardo said, standing up. I pull the three of us into a hug. "Heal up, man." I said once we parted. "We have a city to take back."
"I give that a big, fat, sloppy, wet, booyakasha!" Michelangelo said. I shake my head. Was the "big, fat, sloppy, wet" necessary?
"Oh, um, introduction." I should probably introduce the tiger to everyone. "The blue and gray male tiger is my biological brother Apollo, he's half Steel, half Water type." Everyone greets him. Apollo is one of the shy types, sometimes he's a bit cowardly, but he has courage. "I'm sorry for attacking you before." He said, his eyes on Leonardo. "It's okay. You were trying to defend yourself." Leonardo rubs Apollo's head.
We all go our separate ways. Apollo goes to his territory, and we head back to ours. My brother is still alive. Best night of my life. Sort of.
I'm sitting on the porch, looking up at the night sky. I sigh in a depressed fashion. Someone sits down next to me. "What's wrong?" I look to my right and see Leonardo. "I miss my dad. I mean, what if he mutated? I'd never forgive myself."
"Marcus, wherever he is, I'm sure he's okay." Leonardo said to me. "How do you know? You don't know him like I do. Even if he's come a way since his somewhat timid beginnings, he—" Leonardo cuts me off. "That's my point right there. Kingsley is one of the most fearless and one of the most adaptive Pokémon I know. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he was on his way here, right now."
I feel a bit better after hearing what Leonardo had to say. "Thanks, Leonardo." I said with a grin. He gives me a hug and I walk back inside with him. I really hope my dad is okay. It's bad enough I secondarily mutated. I don't want him to mutate, too.
Done in a day, posted in one month!
I already have a plot figured out for "A Foot Too Big." And hopefully, it'll be a good one. I put a lot of thought into it.