A Tale of Two Skaters
by Brinatello

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Chapter 1

It was a dark and stormy night.

"Wait. How would I know?"

Michaelangelo rose from the bright computer screen and headed out the door to the adjoining room. His brother would not be pleased with him for taking so long, but like the calm one that he is, he'd get over it quickly. Besides, the typewriter needed a new ribbon and he couldn't let the precious thoughts slip away while he awaited a brand new one to be installed. Donatello would forgive him in due time.

His new story was off to a good start. That is, if his name was Snoopy, the famous Peanuts dog whom always started his stories with, "It was a dark and stormy night." Horror novel writers are always wanting to put the reader in a situation where the time of day was dusk and the weather is always horrible. Why is that? Why did it have to be dark and stormy? To Michaelangelo, it didn't matter what type of genre it was. This turtle was good...no...damn good at what he does, but from the look of things, he seemed a little distracted tonight.

Leonardo was seated on the old sofa when the young turtle writer entered the low-lit living room quarters. The TV blared out the typical New York news but no one paid much attention to it. Instead, Leonardo sat with an open book while the newswoman gave the reports of crime in the city, shoot-ups and robberies, the usual nightly affairs of New York. Donatello paced the room, impatiently waiting for his computer as Michaelangelo paused to look around.

"Hey, have they shown the weather yet?" He asked around. Seconds ticked; no one answered. "I am addressing the living."

"Sorry, Mike." Leo lifted his gaze. "What did you say?"

"The weather? You know, the highs the lows, the colds, the warms? What's it currently like outside?"

"Hard to say when we live in a tomb." Don lifted half a grin but still dreaded the thought. "The world could be coming to an end and we'd be the last to know."

"Tell me about it." Mike crossed his arms, gazing down to Leo whom held a book called Dune. "Hey, didn't you read that book already?"

Leo looked to the title. "I did. Why?"

"Will you read mine...ah, when it's finished?"

"Uh, maybe, Mike." He smirked to be nice.

"Speaking of finished, Mike, are you?" Don, a.k.a, the pacing turtle, glared with anticipation. "I'd like to get back to my--"

"Computer. I know, Don. And no, I'm not finished. Haven't even started to be quite honest." The turtle growled and turned away quickly. "I've got something on my mind but I need the right moment. I need to get....well, inspired to write. I need to...I need a plot of some kind."

"Why not go for a walk?" Donatello suggested, hoping to have any excuse to get his computer back. "It might help you get better ideas to start writing something other than 'it was a dark and stormy night.' "

Mike stared back wide-eyed. "How'd you know I wrote that?"

"It's the same story you've been working on for three days now!" Don shot back. "And that's the only sentence you've written across the screen!"

"Sorry! I've obviously been cooped up too long." Michaelangelo scowled under breath while applying his hat and coat. "Fine, I'll take a walk. It'll do me good. Maybe I'll run into Raph--" On his way out, he smashed into a hard object walking in. It was dressed all in black and wearing a white ghost mask.

"BOO--"

"Aaaaaaah!!!" Mike flew backwards over the couch as Leo and Don blinked in surprise.

"Hehehehe..." A muffled laugh came from under the mask. "Man, I got you good, Mike!"

"Raph!" Leo stood up with hands to his hips. "What's the big idea scaring him like that?!"

"Aw, come on Leo! Lighten up!" Raph said through the ghost mask. "You're missing all the fun! Don't you guys even know what day it is?"

"The day we plan to kill you?" Mike said, still clutching his chest.

"Day of the Dead?" Don suggested.

"Naaaw, here, check this out..." Raphael dug deep into his pockets of the costume to fish out handfuls of different types of candy. "I'll give ya a hint: kids say 'Trick or Treat' to get this sugary stuff."

"Candy?!" That changed Michaelangelo's face from fright to a wide grin. "It's Halloween! I totally forgot!"

"Heh, then you'd have a boring night if I didn't come in."

"Shaaa." Mike sized him up. "Where'd you get the costume, bro?"

"Stole it off a teen who'd rather do more tricks than treats." Raphael looked proud. "Of course, I'm no better when I like to play a mean trickster. The night is still young if anyone wants to come with me to score more sweets. Volunteers?"

"Yeah, I'll go!" Michaelangelo shouted, looking to Leo and Don. "Let's all go! You guys still like Halloween, right?" Donatello bowed his head to hide a smile as Leonardo looked away to the ceiling. "Coolness! Get your coats, guys...and, ooh, hey, you want me to call and invite Shadow?"

Raphael did a low snicker. "Actually, after we go Trick or Treating, her, April and Casey, are going to the Village Halloween Parade."

"So, what's so funny about that?" Leonardo asked.

"Nothing. I'm laughing about when April told me what Casey is dressing up as." He snickered heavily again, making his brothers looked confused. "Don't know how she talked him into going as...well, you'll see what I mean when we meet up with them! Hurry up and get dressed!"

"You got it! Ooh...wait..." Michaelangelo paused while buttoning his coat and looked down. "I just thought of something. If it's Halloween, why should we have to worry about wearing our street clothes? We could go as ourselves if we wanted to!"

"Uh...better take your coat anyway, Mike." Leonardo suggested while plopping his hat over his head. "It's pretty cold outside and the last thing we need is for you to get sick and pass around your unwanted germs to the rest of us."

"Heh, right, dad--er, Leo." Mike grinned.

"Guys.." Donatello looked to himself in his street clothes, then to Mike and Leo. "This is ridiculous! We all look alike and we don't have time to get a costume..." He glanced to Raph whom re-entered. "....unless of course, we steal it off of some kid."

"It won't matter to anyone else." Michaelangelo patted his shoulder. "You could say the clothes is a cover-up and you're really a mutant turtle in disguise!"

Don gave him a stupid look. "But Mike, I really am a mutant turtle in disguise. We all are!"

"Oh, yeah." Mike looked into a small mirror on the wall. "Well, then...just call me Michael Bogart!"

"Or how about Ray Bradbury?" Raphael passed out three pillow cases. "I've heard what you've been up to lately....writing that story of yours. Man, you do need to get out more..." The four mumbled amongst themselves as the door slammed shut. Emerging from his room, Splinter lifted a big smile. Finally, another night to himself to relax, read a good book, perhaps meditate, and best of all, take charge of the remote control!