Little Brother
By Maikafuiniel



Chapter 5
For Your Own Good



"Mikey," Leonardo started sadly, "Look. We just-"

"Leo, hand over the weapons. They're mine and you know it.

"I know that Mikey," he tried again, stronger this time, "But you have to listen. It's not so simple as that."

"Funny Leo, I thought it was. See, you hold out your arm, and untwist your fingers-"

"Mikey, the plain and simple fact, no matter how much you're not going to like it, is that I can't give you back your weapons."

"WHAT?! Why now? Master Splinter!" He looked to his Sensei who looked as though taking part in this conversation was the last thing he wanted to do.

"Michelangelo, your brother is correct. I can not allow you to have your weapons."

"And just why not?"

"Do you remember what age I allowed you to use even the training weapons my son?"

Mike stood their for a moment, thinking hard. "About… five?"

"Hai. And do you remember why?"

"Well sure sensei! 'Cause we weren't practiced in them or anything! But I know how to use them now! It shouldn't matter how small I am!"

"Sadly my son, it does. As you've regressed you have lost the muscle and likely the abilities you once had. They were practiced my son. You're abilities to use your weapons and moves were created from years of practice. And even if you know the movements themselves now, it does not matter. You have none of the muscle to accompany them."

"But Master Splinter-"

"No Michelangelo. You are not to use the weapons. You are not to enter the dojo. Please… I simply do not want you to be hurt. You understand this, do you not?"

Mike looked at his father for what seemed like far too long, and his brothers were getting fidgity. It was obvious they were expected to stay, but they didn't know what to do. What to say.



Eventually I backed off. Master Splinter was telling the truth, I knew that. He was my father after all, and he wasn't going to just lie to me or anything. There was no point.

But dude, I was mad. Not at him. Not at my brothers even, though they kept spouting off with things like, "Hey Squirt", and "How's the weather down there?"

Actually, the last one was just Raph.

It was like that for a full week, you know? Just them, being really mean about it, and Splinter acting like I really was three. Not just in body though.

At first it was like nothing much changed. I wasn't expected to cook anymore, which sucked big time. The guys and I figured out that I wasn't going to be able to use the stove or anything, because it was just too big for me.

At first I figured it was going to be awesome. I wouldn't really be expected to cook, so that would mean I had more free time, right? Well, choking down the awful so called healthy things that Leo and Donny cooked took up most of my time. Veggies were way too suddenly part of every meal.

But other then that… It was kind of like normal. I watched my cartoons, just like I always had, and I drew my pictures, just like I always had. But then, it was around seven o'clock and Master Splinter called all my bros to the Dojo. I went along, not thinking anything of it, right? Well, soon as I got there Splinter sent me away.

He said that it was practice time and that I might get hurt.

I wanted to get mad and everything, but I couldn't because Raph would have just said I was having a hissy fit and it was normal for kids that were my age. Of course then I would get mad, but then what? Would we fight? Would we yell?

Nope. No fighting and no yelling because I might, ya, you guessed it.

I might get hurt.

Because now I'm little.

Oh how I want to punch him, brother or no.

And that's why after a full week of being stuck as a little kid, I snuck out of the lair again.

C'mon dude, can you blame me?