I was having a Mexican standoff with my Charmander. I couldn't tell who was winning, me or him. I made a chattering noise as if I was stalking my prey. Charmander's eyes were twitching. We've been at this for about five minutes. If this doesn't stop, I'll start hallucinating. I think he's at level 12 now. So now he knows Dragon Breath.

This can't go on forever. Time to put an end to this. I jolted a paw at him, causing him to flinch and blink. He barked, playfully angered. "Oops, I, did it again." I sang. Then I laughed an evil laugh. "I'm so evil." I snickered. Next thing I knew, my Charmander tackled me. It was all playful wrestling from there. We stopped until we were out of breath. "I'm going with the boys on a Kraang mission. Wanna come?"

Charmander gulped. Then he started trembling. I ran my paw along his back from head to tail. "I don't blame you for being scared. You don't have to go if you don't want to." I soothed.

Charmander sighed, feeling a bit better. He has his fears, just like I have mine. But I don't enjoy discussing them. Tigers are supposed to be fearless and fight for their turf. I can show you how fearless I can be, if you like.

"Keep moving. Don't let them surround you. Failure is not an option!" Leonardo ordered. We were fighting the Kraang. At last, someone to go savage on. Another day, another reason to unleash my inner animal.

"Technically, failure is always an option." Donatello replies. True. "You know what else is an option? Slapping you!" Raphael answered. I bonked him in the back of the head with my torch in my tail. "There. Happy? Now focus!" I yelled before biting a Kraang droid in the neck, decapitating it. I did the same thing with two other Kraang droids.

I notice Donatello hitting a Kraang droid in the head. Like a Psychic type move on a Dark type, no effect... "Are you kidding me? I hate this thing!" He yelled. Poor guy... I rammed my head into a Kraang droid until we both crashed into the wall. "Nice work. When we're done here, there's a marching band that needs a majorette." Raphael replies.

"Kraang, the present is being a positive time to be the testing of the energy cannon." A Kraang said. Energy cannon? A few Kraang appear with a giant machine. That explains a lot. "Everyone, stand your ground!" Leonardo orders. I spread my front legs out and bared my teeth, growling loudly. The cannon starts to fire. "On second thought, run!" Leonardo yelled. Oh, if I must...

My fur flashes a metallic silver color (Iron Defense), then I blocked the Ray with a hexagon-like barrier (Protect). Although, unintentionally, the Ray reflected and hit Donatello's bō staff. "Oh, come on!" Donatello yelled, frustrated. "Sorry!" I yelled back. "Dude, your weapon just exploded!" Michelangelo says, pointing at it.

"How am I supposed to fight advanced aliens technology with a stupid stick?!" Donatello exclaimed. "My bad!" I commented. We were cornered when the cannon was getting ready to fire again. An idea hit me just in time. I spat, causing a small ember to hit a pole, then something on the laser cannon. It broke down and crushed the Kraang droids.

"Dumb luck." Raphael replies. "It wasn't luck, I just have good aim. Very good aim." I said as we exited the building through a window. Donatello was the last one out. "Hey, give me a hand with this," Donatello says to us. "A hand with what?" I ask. He shows us what he was holding. Nothing I can't handle.

"Can you explain to me why we're carrying this thing around, please?" I ask. We were holding parts of a Kraang droid. "Don't you want to understand how these things work?" Donatello asks. "Well, uh, little bit of yes, little bit of no." I answer.

"I know how they work. You hit them until the brainy toy of surprise pops out." Raphael says sarcastically. "Brainy toy of surprise. Real cute." I deadpanned. "You're ruining my joke." Raphael mutters to me. "Sorry not sorry." I purr with amusement.

"That's your problem. You don't think things through." Donatello says as he dropped the Kraang droid into a manhole. It didn't exactly fit, though. "Is that supposed to fit?" Raphael asked. Donatello kicked the robot's head rhythmically.

"I got this," I say. I stretched a cat stretch. I jumped high and stomped on it. It didn't go into the water, but I became stuck in the manhole. I pushed myself out with little effort. The boys stare at me. "What?"

I was greeted by a trilling noise from Charmander. "It went rather well, thanks for asking." I said, rubbing his chin with my finger. The cute little guy was curled up in Raphael's neck. My Charmander seems to have taken a liking to Raphael.

"This technology is light years ahead of anything I've ever seen! Do you know what this is?" Donatello asks April, who didn't see what was in his hand. "No." She answers. Donatello wasn't paying attention. "Neither do I! But I can't wait to find out!" Donatello says excitedly.

Splinter walks in with a replica of Donatello's staff in his hand. Or paw. "Looks like somebody's got another stick to break." Raphael said teasingly. I poke him. "What? I'm kidding." He confirms. Even if so, it's not funny.

"With all due respect, Sensei, I can't keep fighting alien technology with a six-foot staff. I was hoping to upgrade my weapon," Donatello explains. "Mmm. A seven-foot staff. Interesting." Splinter says. I made a hyena giggling noise. Donatello glares at me. I stick my tongue out at him. "No, I meant using modern technology." Donatello said.

"Aah, a solar-powered staff." Splinter said. I giggled louder. Donatello turns to me again. "You need to stop that." He snaps. "Nevah!" I say in a funny voice. Everyone except Donatello laughs. Raphael puts an arm around me. Charmander's tail starts wagging.

"I'm serious," Donatello says to me and Splinter. "I know. And yes, you may upgrade your weapon." Splinter answers. "That's totally unfair! You can't just— wait, did you just say yes?" This time I held back my hyena giggles.

"Ninjas have improved their arsenal for centuries. We are masters of adaption," Splinter said. "That is great! 'Cause with this technology, I will be invincible! What should I make? Electric sais? Multi-shot shuriken? Plasma swords? I just gave myself goosebumps! Wanna feel? Eh?" April didn't look up form her laptop. "Pass." I'm having trouble holding back my giggles again. Donatello can be such a weirdo. "I call plasma swords!"

"Listen, buddy, let me tell you something that my dad told me; your weapon doesn't make you superior. In this case, to the Kraang." I told Donatello. "Easy for you to say. Your weapon is indestructible!" He retorts. I narrowed my eyes at him and tapped my tail on the ground. Charmander rolled his eyes, just as annoyed as I am/

"Marcel has a point. Remember, technology is a means, not an end. It is you who must prevail in battle, not your weapon. Combat is not a video game," Splinter said, adding on to my claim. But Donatello took it the wrong way. "That's it! I'll turn combat into a video game! Thanks, guys!" Donatello replies, running off to his lab. I shook my head and turned to lay down.

I lowered my head so it was in between my front paws. My dad and I have had an old fight against each other. Whenever I'd want to play with someone, other than my siblings and friends, he'd keep a constant eye on me. Not only does it creep me out, but we had a talk, which turned into an argument, about him stalking me.

He's surprisingly good at it. That day, we both lost our tempers in the midst of our argument. Just before I dealt the finishing blow, a falling object soared through the sky, getting in between us. An explosion ensued, and we haven't seen each other since. My dad calls himself the Dark Raikou.

You guy know Raikou, right? That's where I got my stripe pattern from. Instead of yellow with black stripes, the Dark Raikou is black with yellow stripes. The only things I inherit from him is the head armor and the stripes. I don't inherit the paws, the sabertooth fangs, the tail, the whiskers, and the thundercloud on his back. He's also half blind.

He lives up there in space. If he ever saw me out there, how would he react? Especially when I made friends with four mutant turtles. But I don't think he's my real dad.

The Dark Raikou mutated eons before I was born. He was a normal Raikou when mutagen switched his fur and stripe color. I've never met my mother. I don't even know where my siblings are. I told you about younger brother. He mutated with me. We have the same mutation day. Next time I see Kazar, he's in for a butt-kicking.

I was about six when I found Splinter with four baby mutant turtles. Somehow, I made myself a home in an abandoned alley, where I learned how to fend for myself. I wasn't always lonely, though. And I haven't seen my family or friends ever since. Of course, only Splinter, Kijani, and now my Charmander knows about this. One day, I'll have to tell the boys, too. But for now, this is kept a secret. I have to wait for the appropriate time to tell them.

I yawned, my head pressed to the floor, as I was watching an episode of Space Heroes with Leonardo. I may not be a fan of this show, but I enjoy it. I sniffed the side of Leonardo's head before giving him a few licks. He laughed, rubbing my chin with his hand. "You're such a good boy." He said as if I was a dog. We turned our heads back to the TV.

"What'll we do? What'll we do?"

"There's only one thing we can do. Dr. Mindstrong... Must be destroyed." This can't be good. I watched as Dr. Mindstrong got destroyed. I sighed. "What a hero," I realized that Leonardo and I said at the same time. We looked at each other. I flapped my ears.

Our moment was interrupted when the ground shook. I spread my paws out on the floor in an attempt to steady myself. I turned around and saw... A robot turtle? "Take me to your leader." It ordered through a megaphone in its mouth. I just walked up to it and sniffed it, from the foot to the head. "Do I know you?" I asked.

"No, you don't." I heard Donatello say. "Ladies, gentlemen, this is the future of ninjutsu." I'm still having thoughts about this guy. I reared back and raised my paw. I jumped around a bit and swatted the robot turtle. Nothing happens. I swatted it again. "Hey, be careful with it!" Donatello said, pushing me away. "Sorry."

"I always thought the future of ninjutsu would be taller." Raphael retorts. The robot turtle was about half Donatello's height. I snorted in the robot's plastron. Hey, I can see my reflection! "Hey there, handsome." The robot attacked me. I shook myself and roared at it. What the heck was that?

"He didn't like being tickled." Donatello said, patting the robot's head. "I wasn't tickling him, I was sniffing him over." I barked. "Isn't it cool? I reverse-engineered it from the Kraang droid." He says. "And why, exactly?" I ask. "The drone can handle the dangerous stuff while we stay out of harms way." Donatello replies. Aren't we already in harms way as it is?

"Oh, I get it. It's for wimps too afraid to fight." Raphael said. "No, it's for wimps too smart to fight. I mean-" I sighed. This is ridiculous. "Let's call him Metalhead!" Michelangelo said. "Why, you ask? Cause it's got a head and its made of—" I cut him off by putting an arm around him. "I can always rely on you when it comes to naming things." I purred in his ear.

"I don't need a toaster to fight me battles for me." Raphael retorted. I used my tail as a whip and snapped him. "Ow!" He yelped, rubbing his arm. I start sniffing Metalhead over again. "I'm not saying that I don't like your robot, but," I crouched down, ready to pounce. "He's gotta go." I growled darkly.

"Okay," Donatello said in a 'Suit yourself' tone. "Attack it then. Give it all you got." If that's what he wants... Raphael attacked first, but was taken down quick. Leonardo and Michelangelo lasted longer, but not much. I was the last man standing. "Hit it with your best shot." Donatello teased. I narrowed my eyes at him.

I circled Metalhead until I was in front of him. I swiped a paw on the ground, causing sparks to fly behind me. I roared and charged at Metalhead like a mad bull. I lit my teeth on fire, ready to treat Metalhead like a Steel type.

With exceptionally good precision timing, Metalhead grabbed my shoulders and threw me into the pool. Good thing Charmander wasn't on my back. I'm lucky I can breathe underwater. Charmander can't, and the little flame on his tail would go out. Bad memories played through my head.

I floated back up, fear drawn all over my face. "Okay, listen, I enjoy a nice swim every once in a while, but... GET ME OUT OF HERE!" I roared as if my life depended on it. It kinda does. "Oh my gosh, Marcel, I am so sorry!" Donatello said, helping me out of the water.

"It's okay, really," I said. "I've had a few bad memories with water, that's all." I shook the water off my fur. The boys laughed. "I'll be right back." Donatello said. He left. He came back after a while. "Guys! Sensei say I can take Metalhead out for a test!" He yells. He then notices my depressed state. "Hey, are you okay?"

"You're not scared of water, are you?" Leonardo asked. "No, but, it seems as though every time I'm underwater, I get a feeling of what drowning feels like." I paused. "I like water, but I can't stay down there forever."

"Why not?"

"If I stay underwater for too long, my internal flame might go out. I won't be able to breathe fire or use my torch for a certain amount of time." I actually do feel better when I'm talking it out. "It all depends on how long I'm underwater."

"We had no idea." Raphael rubbed my back.

"Eh, let's not dwell on it." I purred, shaking it off. "For right now, let's focus on the fact that a robot turtle up on the surface doesn't sound very silent." I told him. He waves me off. "Relax. It'll be cool."

I sigh. I hope I can talk some sense into him. And one way or another, I will. So be it.

I run across the rooftops, having no trouble with keeping up with the boys. Well, three of them anyway. I stop when I hear a crash behind me. Metalhead was running behind us, then stopped in front of us. So much for the future of ninjutsu, huh?

"Should we double back? I think there's a car alarm he didn't set off." Leonardo retorts. I got in Metalhead's face. "Are you positive this is a good idea?" I asked. Oh, Lord of Nazareth, help me, I'm talking to a flipping robot. I'm gonna go crazy in a minute.

"I kinda like it. It goes nicely with all the sirens and cries for help." Raphael said. I snorted. "Oh, come on, you guys are just jealous because you're out there in the cold, and—"

"Alright, first off, we're not jealous. Second, it is not cold out here. And third," I cut myself off on purpose. "If you think a robot turtle can replace you, you're dead wrong." I said. I meant it. I leaned forward so my forehead was touching Metalhead's. "I just hope you realize that at some point."

I wonder if he heard what I said. "Aww. Thanks." He said. Yep, he heard me. "If you want to keep going with Metalhead, go for it. Just don't forget what I said."

"Hello?" Someone said. I jumped, my nose in the air sniffing. "Hey, guys quiet. Somebody's coming." Leonardo ordered. "Guys, it's me." The voice replies. Wait, there's a familiar scent in the air. April? Must be. I looked down and saw a redhead teenage girl near a dumpster. Yup, it's April.

I meowed and snuffled as an act of greeting. It was common from where I come from. "Been a while since I last saw you." I said. A whistling noise reached my ears. My Charmander pressed himself against me. It progressively got louder until something fell into the dumpster. Let me guess who or what that was.

I opened the dumpster and saw Metalhead inside. "Seriously?" I ask half amused, half annoyed. "Sorry." He replied. I picked him up and placed him next to April. "Still, it's stealthier than the real Donatello." Raphael says. I gave him a sideways glare and snarled. "What?"

"What the heck is that?" April asks. "This, my dear friend, is Donatello's latest invention. Allow me to introduce you to Metalhead." I said as if I was introducing someone to an audience. "Catchy name, huh? My idea." Michelangelo said. I patted his head. I love this precious thing.

"Oh, sorry, April. I'm stil getting used to the controls," Donatello/Metalhead replies in a deafening loud volume. I plugged my ears, hissing. It sucks when you have sensitive ears. "Whoops. Megaphone button got stuck," Donatello/Metalhead said in a normal volume. I slowly uncovered my ears. Any louder and I might have gone deaf.

"Guys, we gotta do something. The Kraang are going to poison the city's water supply with mutagen!" April exclaims, worried. "The city will become a disaster area!" Leonardo says. "That's not good." I shout. My Charmander nudged me.

"Anyway, think of all the friends we can make!" Michelangelo said. Everyone, except me, look at him weird. That's partially true. I mean, take a look at me. I'm a mutant, and I'm their friends.

"Excuse me for being a glass half full kind of guy," he replies. "Let's go!" Leonardo orders. "Yeah! The Kraang don't stand a chance!" Metalhead replies before I stop him. "What?" He asks. I don't want to have to say this but...

"Maybe you should hang back," I said. "Metalhead is just a little bit... Well, clumsy." I tried finishing my sentence without sounding like a jerk. "Clumsy?" Metalhead knocked some trash cans with his arms. "I did that on purpose to emphasize my point." I looked to my right for a moment.

"Donatello, no." I said as the others left. "But hey, look on the bright side, you'll get some alone time with April." I nuzzle Metalhead before leaving. Charmander let out a battecry.

We were in the warehouse where we saw the Kraang doing something. I'm starting to regret leaving Donatello. "Ready to bash some bots?" Raphael asks.

"Destroy some droids?"

"Uh... Eliminate some extraterrestrials?" The first thing that popped into my head. Charmander gave me a confused look. He probably doesn't know what extraterrestrial means. And I saw E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and I'm here to say, extraterrestrial is another word for an alien.

"Clean some closets?" We all look at Michelangelo. Where did that come from? "I mean, crush some Kraang?" Michelangelo replied sheepishly. "Good save." I muttered. We attack. I mauled several Kraang droids to death. Even when the laser cannons hit me.

I heard a crash and stopped my mass murder on the Kraang. Metalhead! "Hey yo! Donatello! You are killing it out there!" I cheered on. A Kraang droid snuck up behind me. I tackled it to the ground, continuing my massacre on the Kraang.

I stopped abruptly when I saw a Kraang jump out and latch on to Metalhead. Oh no! "Guys, if you can hear me, you'd better run!" Metalhead says. That was the last thing I heard from him.

"The ones that which are called turtles and tiger will now be called turtles and tiger that are destroyed!" Metalhead said in a Kraang voice. I gulped.

"Whew! I was really afraid at the beginning of that sentence, but then I just sort of lost interest towards-" Metalhead fired lasers, interrupting Michelangelo. "Okay, I'm afraid again!" I think he should be.

I hope this works... I did what I did earlier today and I (tried to) ram my head into Metalhead's shell from behind. My head collided with his shell, my foot raised to increase power. I snapped my eyes open. I'm starting to think that Metalhead is made out of a metal that's harder than steel. I can't even tell you how much that hurt.

Whelp, I tried.

Metalhead started firing lasers at me. I dodged most, if not all of them. I lunged at him, ready to slam my entire body weight on Metalhead. But I didn't get a chance to.

I roared out in pain when a laser beam hit my shoulder. I landed flat on my stomach, gripping my left shoulder. That didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. I thought it wouldn't hurt at all.

"Marcel, are you hurt?" Leonardo asked. "Hurt? Me? I've had worse pain than this." I hissed in pain, taking my paw off my shoulder. There's a bit of fur missing. I'll live. It's Metalhead, and Donatello, that I'm worried about. My Charmander helped me stand up. He's a real pal.

I whirled around in front of Metalhead, baring my teeth so my gums were visible. "The one known as the tiger will be destroyed." He said. "I have a name, first of all. Second, I. Can't. Die!" I attacked Metalhead, only for him to block it. I was growing frustrated. What kind of alloy is this?!

Charmander used Flame Charge from behind. Charmander's angered cry caught Metalhead's attention. Metalhead grabbed Charmander and threw him to me, knocking me into the wall.

I was cornered by Kraang. Injured or not, I stood my ground. "Now Kraang will destroy you," Metalhead said. "Which one wishes to be destroyed by Kraang first?" I was about to volunteer, since I can't die, but an all too familiar voice beat me to it.

"Me!" Donatello landed in front of us, his bō staff at the ready. My face lit up. "Donatello!" I cried. "Banging entrance, dude!" Michelangelo added. Banging entrance indeed! "You guys deal with the droids!" Donatello ordered. "I'll handle Metalhead!"

"Not by yourself, you're not!" I objected, standing by his side. "No. I started this, I have to finish this. Alone." I'm not letting him talk me out of this. "No one deserves to be alone. Especially in a situation such as this." I lowered my voice a bit. "I'm not leaving your side. Your stuck with me, whether you like it or not." Donatello smiled at this. I shot him a grin back.

I nodded and grunted at the same time, turning our heads to Metalhead. I stomped my paws on the ground, showing this bucket of bolts who's boss. "It is the maker of the tech which is the tech of Kraang." He said. I unsheathed my claws, and Donatello spun his staff.

"Come now, give us your best- WHOA!" I cut myself off when Metalhead shot his rocket hand at us. I didn't know he could do that. I batted the hand away. Donatello tried attacking the robot, but it retaliated by shooting lasers at him. One of the beams snapped his staff.

"Not again!" He said. I thought the same thing. "Remember what I told you. Your weapon doesn't make you superior." I reminded him. I noticed a pillar that was taken out by the two bombs that came from Metalhead's mask, which flipped me out. Is there anything he cannot do?

I know the look Donatello gets when he gets an idea. Knowing what he was thinking, I winked at him. I whistled to get Metalhead's attention. It shot lasers at me. At by far the worst possible time, my shoulder started hurting again. I roared, gripping my shoulder.

"Is your shoulder okay?" Donatello asked. "I got hit by a laser. Nothing drastic." I said. "Might wanna take a look at it when we get back." I added. "I will." He said, patting my head. "The ones known by you as-" Donatello cut Metalhead off.

"Just come get us." He said. Metalhead launched more eye bombs at us. We jumped out of the way, causing them to hit the pillar. We were behind Metalhead. Just as the pillar landed on top of us, I freaked out, unsure of what to do. Charmander just trembled in fear.

The pillar fell on Metalhead instead of us. Donatello's staff plunged into Metalhead's chest. I grin, roaring in triumph. Charmander did the same.

"The revenge will he had on those who call themselves the turtles and tiger!" The Kraang said its final words as Metalhead powered down. The small Kraang jumped off in front of me. I roared, scaring if off. I chased it for a second before letting it go. Charmander would've scorched it to the ground if I told him to.

But I had mercy.

"Nice job, bro!" Michelangelo said. "Way to go, guys!" Leonardo complimented, rubbing my face. I purred in contentment. "Yeah, not bad," Raphael said. "Except for the part where you built the thing in the first place. And the part where it broke. And the part where it tried to kill us. And the part-"

I was mouthing him off for most of it. Michelangelo held back a laugh. Annoyed, I decided to cut him off. I stood up and roared. "Silence!" I barked, pushing him a bit with my paw. I walked over to Donatello and nuzzled him. He really proved himself tonight.

We were back at the lair, and Donatello just got done fixing my injured shoulder. "Just try to stay off it for a few days." He said. "Thank you." I said. Looks like I'll have to stand on two legs to get around. I heal very fast, so in least two to three days I'll be able to use this arm again. I'm right handed, anyway.

My Charmander never seemed to leave my side since then. Not that I didn't enjoy his company. He knows I'll be fine. I noticed Donatello talking to Splinter. Maybe I should get involved?

"Responsible for destroying the mutagen. Responsible for saving the people on this city. Responsible for defeating advanced technology using only ingenuity, bravery, and a stick." Splinter said to Donatello.

I gesture Donatello to crouch down to my level. He takes my head into his hands. "I thought about what you said." He whispered. I could tell there was gratitude in his voice. What I'm about to say isn't intended to be a tear jerker, but still.

"I'm going to tell you this once and once only, so you listen good." I said, a bit of seriousness in my tone. "You are Hamato Donatello. No one and nothing can replace you. You have everything you need, right here," I place my paw where his heart would be. I saw tears spring in his eyes. He pulls me in for a big hug. I return it with my good arm.

"You... Are... The best friend... A turtle could have." Donatello said in between sniffles. I rubbed my head against his. "Don't rub it in." I purred. We broke up. "You guys are right." He said. "I know." I said back. "I guess, with proper training, there's nothing better than a wooden stick, except a laser-guided, missile-launching wooden stick!" He slammed his staff that had a missile attached to it.

I facepalmed with a smile. I took my paw off my face in time to see his staff shake. My eyes widen and my fur stands on end. "It's not supposed to do that... Run!" Donatello yells to us and the others. I bolted out of the lair almost instantly.

Will he ever learn, I thought to myself. Even if he doesn't, it won't change the fact that he'll always take what I said into consideration. Whenever he's feeling down. We'll always be buddies.

Now, wasn't that a nice ending?

Marcel and I are sort of like opposites, though. While Marcel absolutely adores hugs, his writer (me) avoids hugs at all costs. While Marcel enjoys others' company, his writer prefers to be alone most of the time.

If I told you which episode Marcel's Charmander would evolve, it would be a spoiler. You'll know soon enough.

Still don't think Marcel doesn't care all that much about Donatello? You just wait for 'Monkey Brains'. You'll see! Watch how Marcel handles the mutant monkey, and how he reacts to Donatello's brothers laughing at him.

Oops! *covers mouth* I said too much, didn't I?