Chapter 5: Family Dinner and Joint Sparring:

The six turtles and their rodent master were now sitting in the pit watching the news, waiting for dinner to be done by the youngest.

"Dinner's done!" Mikey called as Baby Orange began to set the table. "We made a great one this time."

"Burgers!" cried the freckled turtle, throwing his hands in the air in a cheer. "Time to dig in!"

"My sons, since there are more of us than usual, let us eat in the living room." Splinter had looked at the way his youngest and his counterpart were acting and was slightly surprised at the normality of it all. "We will try and get to know one another as individuals and after that why don't we have some joint training to see our own improvements and faults."

His sons and their other selves looked slightly shocked before the older turtles nodded while Red, Purple, and Baby Orange all looked to Blue for confirmation. The eldest of the younger bunch nodded as well before sitting at a seat at the table placed in the living room. Once everyone was seated, Mikey thought of a good ice breaker.

"So," He started after swallowing his bite of burger as Donnie laughed at his younger brother's attempt before it even began. "What's it like having mutants in your world?"

"Oh, it's the best!" Baby Orange squealed. "There's Letherhead, I call him LH for short, he's like my Best Friend-"

"Hey," Purple chuckled leaning over and wiping a fleck of ketchup off of the smaller's pudgy cheek. "I thought that was me?"

"You're best friend and favorite brother D., duh!" Baby Orange wrinkled his nose as the other wiped his face before turning back to his story. "A-And we have Ice Cream Kitty! She's the absolute BEST! She's so delicious and she helps me reach things in the freezer when I can't find or reach it!"

"Pause," Donnie held up a hand, eyes wide. "You guys have Leatherhead in your world as well?"

"An' wha' da shell is an Ice Cream Kitty?" Raph seemed flabbergasted at the thought of what that could be.

"The Leatherhead in our dimension was once a human pet but was flushed by the kids parents," Purple started, face slightly pinched as Red and Blue snickered. "He was then picked up by the Kraang of our dimension and...mutated into a giant crazy strong alligator."

"He has a problem with Don's face." bursted Red before him and Blue began to laugh at Purple's expense.

"He USED to Raph." Purple spit back, face a dark red.

"That's because D., Leo, and Raph did something that caused bad memories." Baby Orange sniped, looking slightly annoyed. "Leatherhead's really sweet I promise. He was just having a hard time understanding that we wanted to help after everything that went wrong in his life, duh."

"And Ice Cream Kitty is...Mikey's pet." Blue pursed his lips as he tried to find a way to explain the mutant cat.

"It was a stray that April had brought down to the sewers but," Red rolled his eyes. "Mikey screwed up AGAIN and somehow mutated her into an ice cream cat."

Master Splinter noticed Baby Orange flinching slightly, he raised a furry eyebrow when Mikey leaned underneath the table and patted the others thigh in a form of comfort.

"T-There's also Mondo Gecko!" The youngest turtle started again. "He was once a human but he was mutated with his Gecko so now he's an awesome mutant skateboarder with me!"

"Was this the," Donnie furrowed his brows as he tried to remember. "The Kraang's fault also?"

"Uh…" Purple seemed flustered as he looked down. "Partly."

"This actually was Donnie and Mikey's biggest screw up." Red snarked, he seemed to be in a menacing mood as he found reasons to torment his two brothers. "They ended up releasing cans of mutagen onto the city and mutating some people and some animals. It's actually weirdly funny when you think about it. A numbskull and a brainiac make a huge mess that we ALL have to clean up."

Purple's red-brown eyes glared at the stockier turtle as he finished off his burger. Baby Orange simply grabbed his plate that only had a little bit of burger on it and seemingly melded off into the background. Splinter chanced a glance at Mikey and was surprised to see his youngest son had disappeared without his knowledge.

His ears perked up as he heard running water in the kitchen and the sound of quiet chatter and dishes being moved as the orange duo cleaned up the kitchen area.

Looking around, he noticed that all of the other empty plates at the table had been cleaned off and taken to the kitchen as well.

"The food was great Mike." Leo smiled, turning to thank their house chef but found himself surprised when instead of an overzealous welcome he was greeted by silence, glancing around he noticed that both Mikey's were gone. "Wonder where they wandered off to."

"Hopefully not too far," Donnie huffed as he stood up grabbing the remaining plates and heading to the kitchen himself. "We have that joint practice now."

"Yeah, an' I sure as shell ain't cleaning tha' kitchen." Raph grunted heading to the dojo, planning on waiting a few for the others to arrive, Red following after him like a duckling.

"I hope Raph's deciding to be a good influence for once." Leo shook his head as Donnie came back and gestured for Purple to follow him to the dojo as well. Blue stood after finishing and gathering his and Red's plates and taking them to the dojo before the rodent went after he stopped by the kitchen.

"My sons," He paused making sure he had their attention. "Please listen to an old rats request."

Two pairs of blue eyes glanced at him; one narrowed in thought and the other wide and full innocent curiosity. "What's up Master Splinter?"

Splinter glanced at his son upon hearing his question, the rat stared straight into his eyes. "I would like the two of you to take this training seriously today. It's time for your brothers to see your true strength."

"Master Splinter...I don't think that's a good idea." Mikey looked conflicted as he spoke, which was highly uncharacteristic. "I don't think the others are ready for that kind of revelation."

"Trust me my son." Dark brown eyes clashed with sky blue ones. "It's time to show the true face of the joker."

"Yes, Master Splinter." The taller turtle bowed but as he stared at the floor, he bit his lip until it was painful. Baby Orange glanced at his counterpart, eyes confused and worried before looking back at his father's counterpart and bowing his head in silent agreement.

Dojo:

Donnie, Raph, and Leo were sitting on one side of the dojo while Blue, Purple, and Red sat on the opposite side; both sides waiting for their youngest brothers and for their Master to come in and instruct them.

"My sons." The giant rat walked in with the two youngest in tow. "It's now time for training. We'll start with Leonardo going against Michelangelo."

Everyone shared incredulous stares with one another. This was a major difference from what Master Splinter usually did; in any universe!

"Master Splinter," Leo stood up, caught off guard. "Doesn't that sound-"

"Like a way fer Mikey ta get his shell kicked?" Raph cut off, a challenging look in amber eyes. "I like da sound of dat! And if by some off chance Mike wins, I'll go next."

"Actually Raphael," Splinter stopped him. "After Leonardo and Michelangelo's spar, you're going against young Michelangelo."

Everything seemed to stop in the room at that statement. Baby Orange was going against a tank like Raph? Purple and Leo seemed like they wanted to say something but help as for Red he didn't hold his tongue.

"You want Mikey to go against him?!" Red's green eyes flashed to look at his counterpart before flicking back to the alternate Splinter. "That won't work out! Mikey's way of fighting...is Mikey's way! It'll never work against the big guys fighting style!"

"Speaking statistically," Purple started, eyes still full of worry. "Mikey may have a chance to get out of it with all his bones still intact if he moves the way he usually does but keeps his mouth shut instead."

Baby Orange didn't say anything just curled his shoulders in a bit more as Mikey bit his lip, three fingered hands clenched into fists by his sides, his long bandana tails covering his face.

"Now, let us begin." Soon Leo and Mikey were circling each other, one watching his brother carefully, concern painted on his face while the other nervously twirled his nunchucks repeatedly as he passed his brother once more.

"Come on Mikey," Raph called from the sideline. "You're usually eatin' dis kinda thin' up!"

Donnie thought similarly but kept his thoughts to himself as he watched his only younger brother clasp his chucks back in his hands once more, just as Leo took a leap at him.

The unusually silent brother tucked and rolled, dodging the attack so quickly that his older brother didn't have time to pull back or change direction; thinking quickly, he turned the kick into a tumble and landed gracefully on his feet.

Brown eyes widened in surprise when he was suddenly smacked in the shell by his brother who hadn't even made a noise once during this whole ordeal, and he was knocked over quickly turning and blocking the nunchuck swinging his way with his twin katana by a hair's breadth. His eyes narrowed once more as he saw the conflict in his brothers eyes and quickly swiped one of his long legs under his brothers, causing the orange banded turtle to tumble down with a small yelp.

"Hyah!" Quickly the orange banded turtle ducked as Leo turned the sliding kick into an upwards kick towards his younger brother's plastron, causing him to think quickly and lock the others ankle with one of the chucks and tugging Leo closer before sending him flying back with a strong Dragon kick back. "Ugh…"

"Enough!" Master Splinter's voice cut through the air as Leo staggered to his feet, hand rubbing his chest as Mikey ran over, blue eyes shining in concern.

"You okay Leo?" He was saying immediately. "I didn't mean to hit you that hard! I'm so sorry bro!"

"It's fine Mikey…" Leo took a deep breath as he looked at the other. "Have you been training?"

"...I don't think it's that." Donnie mumbled from behind the duo as he walked closer. "..."

When his purple banded brother didn't elaborate further, the eldest sat back and watched the next match, eyes training to see if anything was different from this match like his own.

"Next up, Raphael and young Michelangelo." Splinter eyed Baby Orange as he squared up with Raph, the bigger turtle baring his teeth at the small turtle whose blue eyes disappeared behind second lids.

"Begin!" And like that Baby Orange was gone. Simply gone from their sight as if he was never there, leaving Raph alone in the middle glancing around in confusion.

They heard footsteps, near silent, all around them. The tiny turtle seemed to be everywhere as he giggled to throw off his older opponent from his true location. A shuriken flew by, nicking one of the long red tails. Another moment before Baby Orange finally decided to attack, swiftly jumping out with his kusarigama, the chain wrapping around the older turtles built body tightly before a harsh tug caused him to move towards the right. Thinking quickly as the small but strong turtle continued to pull him like a marionette, Raph turned and began to bull-charge Baby Orange. The second lids on the freckled turtles eyes disappeared suddenly, showing surprised blue eyes before they narrowed again and the smaller turtle ran at him, sliding between his legs and pulling the chain with him causing Raph to trip from the sudden jerk and fall flat on his face.

With a growl he struggled with the chains restraining him just as a small tap on his back indicated that Baby Orange had lightly tapped him with his nunchucks as a way to end the match.

"Enough!" Master Splinter once again ended the match as Baby Orange quickly reeled in his kusarigama and leaped back a few feet, meekly staring at his feet as the older turtle got to his feet; breathing ragged and...furious.

"No...Not again…" Amber eyes glared at the orange banded teen before they flicked to Mikey and then back to Baby Orange. "I can't have lost to you again!"

Without warning he took a running start to Baby Orange as Mikey groaned quietly in the back, clutching his head tightly. The emerald colored turtle paid it no mind as he was too consumed by the wildfire of rage enveloping him currently. His hand slammed around a throat two times smaller than it as his other one lifted, ready to knock the daylights out of his captive prey.

The others could only watch in shocked horror as he slammed his fist downward and suddenly Mikey let out an ear piercing wail as he fell to his knees and Baby Orange was sobbing soon after before Red was suddenly on Raph growling and ready to tear him limb from limb, one of the darker turtles arms pushed up between his shoulder blades, with Blue standing with one foot on Raph's shell; katana out and ready to be used if necessary or seen fit, eyes cold and leader like. Purple and Donnie were next to Baby Orange, sitting him up and checking around his throat as he hiccuped and wiped at his face trying to get the blood from his eyes and his mask while Master Splinter checked on Mikey, whose body seemed to have just given out for no reason at all.

And all Raph could think in this moment was: 'Why do I ALWAYS get angry at Mikey's of any kind?'