Donnie ran down the streets. The wind was at his back, guiding and assisting him. The wind was pushing Donnie faster, giving him additional lift when he needed to jump around the mutants and yokai. The wind was also responsible for leading Donnie to where he was going. He didn't know where Mikey was, but the wind knew everything. Donnie just had to follow where the wind was pushing him.

Donnie barely paid attention to his surroundings. He didn't want to waste any time. He needed to find Mikey and get back to Raph. Donnie wasn't an idiot. He knew that Slash had been watching them, and that Raph had pushed him to get out of there before Slash got impatient. Donnie felt sick to his stomach knowing that he had willingly left Raph to confront Slash, but as possessive as Slash was of Raph, he also genuinely seemed to like him. Raph was right about one thing, Slash's aggression would just get worse if Donnie was there.

Donnie just hoped that Leo would be able to keep Raph calm, and that Slash really did just want to talk with his brother. Violence wasn't necessary, not today.

Donnie was concerned, but not surprised when the wind lead him to the square. He flinched and drew back into the first alleyway he came across when he saw that the main plaza was completely packed with rowdy mutants and yokai. If there was one thing that Donnie didn't have any patience for, it was aggressive and angry beings egging each other on. It was one of the reasons why he didn't like Slash to be anywhere near Raph.

Donnie had just jumped into the alley because he hadn't wanted to get caught up with the crowd, but when he felt the ocean pushing at his stomach, encouraging him to go deeper into the alley, he knew he was on the right path.

"Mikey," Donnie whispered as intensely as he could, because he didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to himself, but if Mikey was nearby, he wanted the teenager to hear him. "You in here?"

*Mroww*

Donnie jumped and automatically got into a defensive stance, ready to fight at a moment's notice. Five hundred years on an island with nobody but his brother for company made him a little jumpy. Donnie sighed and deflated in annoyance when he saw that it was just a cat...a very familiar looking cat.

"Mayunk?" Donnie frowned and crouched down, bringing himself closer to the cat's level. "Is that you?" Donnie wasn't as interested in animals as Mikey or Raph were, so he could easily be mistaken in thinking that this cat was Mayunk, but he didn't think he was. He hadn't been exaggerating when he'd suggested that there might be mutants and yokai around who might want to eat the cat, or possibly mutate it. Normal animals didn't last long in the Hidden City.

Donnie picked up the cat and began to examine it, checking for signs of mutation. It certainly appeared normal, and the way that the cat curled into his hold and began purring confirmed Donnie's suspicion. There was no way that this animal actually lived in the Hidden City. The whole place was a rough neighborhood. No creature, not even a little cat, would be so trusting of a stranger.

"Have you seen Mikey around?" Donnie stood up as he naturally began to stroke the cat. Donnie looked around the alley. "I need to find him."

The cat meowed again and began reaching in the direction of an incredibly broken-down looking door leading into a building. Maybe the cat was just acting like a normal cat, but it certainly seemed like it was trying to lead him.

Donnie gave the cat that was probably Mayunk a stern look. He didn't think that animals were as intelligent as humans were, but Raph swore that animals were a lot more aware than he gave them credit for. Donnie didn't know what else to do, so he thought he might as well give his brother's way a try.

"You'd better not be leading me astray," Donnie warned the cat. He clutched it tightly to his chest, just in case there was some trouble through that door, and went inside. The building was dark, but it smelled full of mold and dust. Either this place had been abandoned for a long time, or the being that lived here was very bad at basic cleaning.

Donnie was just a few steps inside before he heard a low growling. He froze in his tracks. Someone, a potential threat, was in here with him. If he was Raph, Donnie would jump blindly into a fight before knowing exactly who or what he was fighting, but that wasn't Donnie's style. He had a much more diplomatic approach.

"Uh, hello," Donnie called out in what he hoped was a pleasant tone. "I'm here looking for, well, a human. Maybe you've seen him arou-agh!" Donnie cried out in alarm when he felt a clawed hand grip his face and pull him forward. The claws weren't painful, but definitely surprising and alarming. It wasn't a very good feeling.

"Wha-Donnie?" He heard Mikey's voice, but the claws in his face were preventing him from turning to see. "What are you doing here?" Donnie grunted and tried to answer, but he could barely make a sound. "Oh, sorry, hang on," Donnie could practically hear the sheepish smile in Mikey's voice. "Come on, that's a friend of mine. Put him down."

The creature holding Donnie's face growled and briefly tightened its grip before it had mercy and let him go. Donnie felt to the ground, startled and trying to figure out what had happened. He looked up in front of him and flinched. He pulled Mayunk protectively close to him. The room was still incredibly dim, but someone had turned on a light so Donnie was able to see what was before him, and he almost wished that he couldn't. Glaring threateningly in front of him was a tall alligator mutant (It resembled a regular alligator far too much for it to be a yokai).

The mutant didn't seem happy to see Donnie there, but it wasn't attacking him, so there was that.

"Donnie!" He blinked in shock when Mikey practically jumped on him. It took Donnie a minute to figure out that Mikey was, in fact, hugging him. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you," Donnie pat Mikey on the back before pulling away from him. "Didn't we tell you to not run off? It's dangerous."

"Mayunk ran off," Mikey pet his cat, who purred loudly. "I didn't want him to get eaten." It was understandable, but that didn't mean that Donnie had to like it.

"The Hidden City is dangerous," The alligator mutant nodded in agreement, though Donnie didn't really know who he was agreeing with. "I found Michelangelo at the rally. I didn't think it would be safe for him."

"You...helped Mikey," Donnie said slowly. He looked from Mikey to the mutant. There didn't seem to be any animosity between the two of them. Mikey had no fear of the mutant, who, in turn, had gone out of its way to keep him safe. "Why? Who are you?" Donnie didn't pretend to know every mutant and yokai in the hidden city, but he and Raph had spent a lot of time here in the past, and Donnie thought that he would remember a mutant of this size who was actually fairly protective of a stranger.

"Oh, this is Leatherhead," MIkey said. The mutant, Leatherhead, seemed to grin in amusement at the name. "I came up with it myself."

Donnie frowned. "Mikey, you can't just name a mutant because you feel like it. He probably already has a name." Donnie really hoped that his assumption that Leatherhead was male was correct. He didn't want to upset the massive mutant any more than he already had.

"No name," Leatherhead said. "Alligators don't have names for each other. When I was changed, I never chose one."

"When you changed…" Donnie's eyes widened. Leatherhead was a first generation mutant. He knew they weren't exactly rare, especially with Baron Draxum and his followers mutating any mortals or animals they came across, but the only other first generation mutant he'd met was Slash. It made him feel a little cautious.

Raph had first met Slash shortly after he'd first been mutated. Raph had taken Slash under his wing a bit, helped him to deal with the changes that came with changing from a normal snapping turtle to a completely aware mutant. Though Slash would forever deny this, he'd been really scared back then. Raph's method of helping Slash keep calm was just by opening up to him. Raph had helped Slash to not feel so vulnerable and weak by sharing his own vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

It had worked too well. There were very few people that Raph had dared to open up to, and Slash had used that trust, abused it, and then completely crushed it. Slash wasn't stable, and Donnie knew that a lot of that may have come from his original mutation.

Donnie knew that one unstable first generation mutant wasn't necessarily a good representation of all first generation mutants, but he couldn't help but be wary of Leatherhead. He didn't know anything about this guy. Mikey seemed to like him, but that didn't necessarily mean anything. Raph had trusted Slash, and look where that got him.

"So, Mikey named you," Donnie said quietly. He wasn't usually one for small talk, but having a casual conversation with the mutant may help him to learn just what the mutant was like.

"He did," Leatherhead nodded. He seemed much more relaxed than before. "I haven't met many humans, but this one is kind. He put himself in danger to save a cat. He didn't deserve to be hurt or mutated, so I helped him. As thanks, he gave me a name."

"Aw, it's no big deal," Mikey grinned and patted Leatherhead's arm. Donnie actually agreed with Leatherhead. Even when you're someone who was in the habit of helping others, it was still a very big deal if you risked your own safety for the sake of another. Mikey had no idea how odd and admirable his kindness and optimism was.

"So," Mikey dragged his word out and rocked on his heels a bit. He looked around. "Where's Raph and Leo?"

Donnie stiffened. "They're probably talking to Slash right now," The longer he was here, the more he was doubting that Slash was capable of talking civilly with anybody, let alone with Raph.

"Slash?" Leatherhead's slitted eyes paled and looked almost completely white and almost milky. Donnie didn't have a good feeling about this. "What is he doing this time?" Leatherhead's question sounded like it was half growled. He was getting riled up, but if Leatherhead knew Slash, which Donnie suspected, he couldn't blame him. Slash had that kind of effect on people.

"He's either talking to or trying to kill Raph," Mikey said casually. Donnie had no idea how he could be so calm about this. Donnie was absolutely terrified, and sitting here talking to a mutant didn't make him feel any better.

"How do you know Slash?" Donnie asked cautiously. It was possible that Leatherhead just knew Slash by reputation alone, but Donnie had the feeling that it was more personal than that. Leatherhead could be enemies with Slash, as many people were, but he could also be an ally or friend. And any friend of Slash's was an enemy of Donnie's, no matter how seemingly kind they were.

"We were part of a team," Leatherhead said. Donnie scowled and moved towards Leatherhead. Mikey stepped in his way and put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "But I've been concerned about his behavior recently. He's been furious since he found those sais."

Donnie clenched his fists and practically growled. This was more Raph's style, but he'd rubbed off on him. "My brother's sais."

Mikey finally looked concerned about the situation. "Maybe we should go find our brothers now. They might need help." Donnie thought this was the smartest thing that Mikey had said all day.

"It isn't safe for two young humans to wander around the Hidden City on your own," Leatherhead's eyes cleared up. He still seemed a little angry, but in a more focused, in control way. "I will accompany you." Donnie wasn't technically a human, but he didn't bother correcting Leatherhead. Mikey kept quiet either.

Donnie didn't want to rely on a stranger's help, especially not someone who could easily decide to side with Slash, but Leatherhead seemed determined to protect Mikey. If Slash threatened Mikey, Leatherhead may be willing to step in between them. Even if Leatherhead only protected Mikey, that was one less person that Donnie would have to worry about.

"Let's hurry," Donnie handed Mayunk to Mikey, who happily took his cat back. "Keep a tight hold on him this time." Donnie didn't want to stay away from his brother any longer than necessary, and he really didn't have the patience to deal with another detor.

The three of them left the dim building. Instead of turning back into the crowded plaza, they went the other way. Not only would taking back roads allow them to stay away from the potentially dangerous crowds, but Donnie thought he could remember some short cuts. Donnie lead the way, even though the wind wasn't guiding him anymore. It was nice to have it's help to find Mikey, but Donnie knew better than to ask so much from it. The air, like the gods, could provide assistance and gifts as it pleased, but you shouldn't make demands or set expectations for it. Donnie had seen how devastated Raph had been when the ocean had gone against what he'd expected. Donnie didn't want to feel like that, or give the air any reason to think that he was ungrateful.

It didn't take long for them to get back to where Donnie had left Raph and Leo. They weren't there, but Donnie had known they wouldn't be. He didn't know exactly where Raph would have gone to have that confrontation with Slash. Donnie just hoped that neither of them would have the patience to go very far.

Donnie didn't think a lot about which direction to go. When they were together, Slash and Raph had always been in the habit of retreating up onto roofs. Chances were, they were up there somewhere. No sooner did Donnie think think before he heard some muffled grunting and thumping above them. It sounded like a fight could be going on up there.

Donnie was about to scale up the building in a way that Raph normally would when he heard Mikey gasp. "Is that...dude, is that your staff?" Donnie snapped his gaze to Mikey, who was pointing across the street. Donnie saw a staff lying carelessly on the ground He rushed to it and carefully picked it up. He felt his blood run cold. Raph wouldn't have let his staff end up like this, not if he had any say in the matter.

Slash.

He had to be responsible for this. Donnie knew that his brother would do anything in his power to keep the staff safe, he would treat it with more care than his own weapons. For the staff to have ended up down here, Slash must have gotten his hands on it, and the only way he could have done that was if he had dominated over Raph. And Donnie was sure that Slash was holding that dominance still, or else Raph would have come down here to get the staff, and the muffled sounds from the roof would be louder, as Raph wasn't a very quiet fighter.

A particularly loud thump from the roof was soon followed by a quiet, weak, but painful sounding groan. Donnie saw red.

He clenched his fingers around his staff. His brother was hurting, and he needed help. Donnie needed to get up there, now. He wasn't as fast a climber as Raph was, but he didn't need to climb. Donnie had other methods to get to where he needed to go.

Donnie closed his eyes and tightened his grip around his staff, letting his powers flow through. He tried not to think about what would be the consequences of the choice he was making now. Raph had no idea what he could do, and Donnie had kept it a secret for a reason. Things were strained between the two of them right now, and Donnie knew that he could potentially be ruining everything between the two of them, but he couldn't think about that right now. Donnie had to help Raph, and this was the best way he could do that.

Donnie snapped his eyes open, and though he couldn't see his own eyes he knew that they had shifted from the usual reddish brown color to almost completely black. Donnie stood up and twirled his staff, releasing his powers, making it surround him. A moment later Donnie felt the rest of the change go through him.

Donnie spread his arms out, slightly raised, except they weren't arms anymore, but wings. Donnie's entire body had changed into that of an albatross. He was shorter than he was in his normal form, but he didn't need height to get Slash away from his brother. Feeling nothing but determination, Donnie ran forward and caught the wind under his wings. In an instant he had flown up to the roof.

Donnie saw Slash with a firm and harsh hold on Leo, which he felt bad about, but the majority of his focus was on Raph, who was being pushed to the ground by Slash's foot. He looked hurt and slightly defeated. It wasn't a look that Donnie liked to see on his brother.

Letting out a chattering cry, Donnie dove towards Slash. Just before hitting him Donnie transformed back into his normal form, which was larger, heavier, and better fit for landing a solid hit. Using his momentum, and with the wind behind him, Donnie was able to shove Slash away from Raph, catching him so off balance that he dropped Leo in the process.

Donnie landed on the roof solidly between Raph and Slash. He held his staff threateningly towards Slash. "Leave my brother alone."

"D-Donnie?" Raph stared at him in slight horror. "You...how did you…?"

"Now isn't the right time, Raph," Donnie said sternly. He couldn't risk apologizing to his brother now. That would require sincere emotion, and letting how he felt show through right now would give Slash an opening to target. Normally Donnie didn't see emotion as a weakness, but Slash definitely did, and he wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of that.

"Donatello," Slash snarled and glowered at him. "Was that a transformation I just saw?"

"I may have been a mortal once," Donnie said. "But I'm much more than that now. You know that."

Slash looked past Donnie towards Raph. "At least one of you didn't grow useless in your banishment."

Donnie waved his staff, summoning a strong air current to hit Slash, forcing him to look away from Raph. "I told you to leave him alone."

Slash used to hate being pushed around by Donnie's wind. He didn't like the use of powers. At this moment though, Slash seemed more amused than anything. "So, you have all of your powers, and didn't even need the sais or trident to pull it off."

Out of the corner of his eyes Donnie saw Mikey pull himself onto the roof, with Leatherhead just behind him. Mikey rushed over to Leo, whose shoulder looked a little off. Leatherhead scowled and stepped towards Slash. He didn't seem ready to fight with him, but more than ready to keep Slash from harming them. Donnie still didn't know just why Leatherhead was wanting to help them, but he wasn't going to question the assistance. Not right now.

Donnie wanted to fight with Slash, take his frustrations with the mutant out on him, but more than that he wanted to get his brother away from him. As Leatherhead rushed towards Slash and shoved him back, Donnie lowered his staff and headed towards his brother. Raph was still on the ground, staring at him.

"Raph," Donnie held his hand out to his brother. "We have to go," Raph flinched ever so slightly from Donnie's hand. Raph didn't seem scared, but he still looked incredibly vulnerable and lost, like he was expecting to be hurt, and didn't think there was anything he could do about it. It broke Donnie's heart. "Please,"

Raph didn't move, so Donnie had to take the initiative. He grabbed Raph's arm and pulled him up. Donnie noticed that Raph had one of his sais at his belt, and a glance towards Leo, who was being helped up by Mikey, showed that he had the other one. At that moment, Donnie couldn't care less about the sais. They may mean everything to Raph, but Donnie's brother meant everything to him, whether he could use his powers or not.

Glancing towards Leatherhead, who was still holding Slash back, Donnie pulled his brother towards the edge of the roof. Mikey did the same for Leo. Donnie used his staff to summon the wind's help. It was more use of his powers than he usually used, and he was a little out of practice, but he trusted the wind to assist him. Mortals and even demigods, couldn't normally fly, but people would be surprised at just how powerful the wind could be.

A/N: This seems like an incredibly odd place to end the chapter, but it also, somehow, seems like the most natural, so I just went with it.

The research for this chapter was fun. Have you guys ever seen a video of an albatross? They're freaking hilarious, but also rather impressive. These birds can get pretty massive, which is what I wanted, because unlike Maui, I wanted Donnie to only transform into animals exactly how they are, and the sizes that they should be. So he can't become just a huge version of a regular bird.

I just had to include Leatherhead. My sister, who helped me to develop this idea, really likes Leatherhead. I hope I wrote him well. It's been a long time since I've watched the 2012 series.