Little Brother
By Maikafuiniel



Chapter 7
A New Plan



Shredder walked to one side of the room, his arms folded behind him. He walked to the wall, looked at it as if surprised to see it there, and turned to walk back to where he had been. He walked back and forth, pacing the room, for a full ten minutes before he started to mutter to himself.

"Those imbeciles," he said, "If they don't find it… I don't need the police after me for dumping illegal substances… too much trouble… why I ever even try to send those two out on an important mission is beyond me. Like they say about having something important to do… always do it yourself. Never trust two simpering fools to do anything worthwhile."

He went on in this manner for quite a while, not noticing when the door opened silently and the two 'men' walked in.

"Eh, boss?" one said loudly, trying to get the attention of Shredder.

Shredder jumped in surprise to find them back already. The sewers of New York were so big the two had probably given up.

"Well? Have you got it?"

"Erm… no."

"Well then what are you doing back here? Get back out there and find it you idiots!"

"But boss!"

"But what?"

"We got something' else for you boss. We think you'll like it."

"And what could you have possibly have brought me from the sewers that I could possibly want?!"

"A mini turtle?"

And with that Bebop dropped a large garbage bag in front of Shredder. He sighed. "Bebop. There are no such things as 'mini-turtles'. Not get off your lazy-"

"No boss, really!" Rocksteady said, "There's a mini turtle in there! Really!"

With another sigh he lifted the bag and opened it.

"A mini turtle indeed…"



Back at the Lair

Splinter walked through the door of their lair and noted that the television was off. Something that was not often seen in his home. "Donatello?"

"In the kitchen Master Splinter," the voice of one of his four sons called out. "We're eating dinner! Want some?"

Splinter walked into the room to see that his sons had… pizza. When Leonardo saw the confused look on his fathers face he tried to explain. "Well, Mikey seems pretty down lately, so we bought a pizza. Having one every once in a while wouldn't hurt. But we couldn't find him in the lair, so we were just going to save some for him."

"It is alright my son," Splinter reassured his son, and turned back to Donatello, "I have found something, I think it may hold a key to bringing Michelangelo back to his proper age." He pulled the container out of one of his pockets and held it to where his son could see.

"Thanks Master Splinter! I'll have a look at it right away," and he was gone leaving only a half piece of pizza on his plate to show he had ever been there. Of course, the pizza was gone into Raphaels throat after only a moment. There was a mumble about how growing turtles needed their food, but the kitchen was soon quiet again, and so Splinter sat down with a plate of his own dinner in front of him.

After a moment Leonardo looked up at his father, "Do you think we're going to have Mikey back soon Master Splinter?"

"I am not a scientist my son, but I do see that he must join us again soon, or find another path in life. He could re-learn everything he has lost in his regression but… it would not be the same."

"No. It wouldn't. Everything is different now Master Splinter. All of these three turtle moves were working on… even if they do work, they're just so different. We've always been four. It kinda feels like were cutting Mikey out of the fold. I know he's angry too, even if he doesn't say anything."

"Well," Raphael interrupted, "Of course he's angry! It probably feels like we just chucked him out of a club or something. What did you expect?"

"I don't know!" Leonardo said sadly, "But I didn't think it would be this hard! It wasn't when we were growing up the first time around!"

"Ah," Splinter said, "But the first time you grew up, it was together. Weather we has brothers or not is no longer an issue. If he is to become a ninja again he must now do it by himself. He will become a solitary one."

"But," Leo said, still sadly, "He can always join us again, when he's back up and about!"

"When he is back to where he must be to be a ninja he will not be able to." Said Splinter.

"Why not?"

"Because by the time that point has come you and your other brothers will have learned long ago to fight as three, and he will have learned to fight as one. For all intents and purposes my son, weather or not he feels loved, he is growing up a single child now. One who is wise beyond his years."

"Wise?" Raphael snorted, "Mikey?"

"Though the words do not seem to match, he is indeed wise. And will always be considered now, especially compared to… to children his age."

"It's just so stupid!" Leonardo said, getting mad now, "Why did this happen! How?! I don't want to become a group of three. I don't want Mikey to grow up not having brothers in the same was as before."

"We must all do things we do not like Leonardo," Splinter tried to explain, "But he is now growing up in a world where his family bases much of their time in an exercise that he can not take part of. The world does not always give us reasons for what happens, but now we must try to deal with it… as best we can."

"Hai," Raphael muttered, "But it still sucks."

He reached for another slice of pizza, and seeing only the one they had saved for Mikey, stood up. "I'm gonna go look for him. He's been out there way to long. Big or little, it ain't safe without back up."

Splinter and Leo both nodded and watched as their brother left the lair.