You'll have to excuse Marcel's brash attitude in this chapter.
I was sitting in the dojo with Donatello and Michelangelo. The bond between me and Donatello have strengthened since... Metalhead. My Fire types getting stronger every day. You know what, pretty much all of us are getting stronger every day, myself included. I was simply observing for today. I licked my paw and rubbed it on my face. Charmander almost fell asleep, he's bored.
"I don't even know what that means." I heard Donatello said. I wasn't paying attention to what they were talking about. "You don't know what what means?" I asked, walking over to the two. "I said he can't take the fire out of Dr. Flipenstein!" Michelangelo said. I gave him a look and shook my head. "Alright." I said, giggling.
"Master Splinter, what would you do if someone tried to throw you with Seoi Nage?" Donatello asked Splinter. Seoi Nage is a shoulder throw. "I don't know," He answers. "Come on, you must have planned a response for every attack." Donatello said. I yawn. "If you think too much about what is coming, you lose sight of what it is. You must be fully in the moment so you can fight without thinking." Splinter said. That makes... Not a lot of sense.
I got up on two legs and put an arm around Donatello. "Would it make you feel better if I show you Seoi Nage?" I ask. Donatello nods. I took a step back and relaxed my muscles. I bent down and spin-kicked his legs, causing him to fall over. "Ow! That wasn't Seoi Nage!" He exclaimed. "You're right. It wasn't. But you thought it would be." I said, smiling. I reached out for him. He took it, and I helped him up, patting his shell.
"You up for defending yourself against a spinning back kick?" I ask, not taking the smirk off my face. "No, I'm good." He answers.
...
While Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo just entered Donatello's lab, I made the slight scraping noise on his door as opposed to knocking. "Come in, bud." Donatello replies. I walk in, my Charmander on my shoulder.
"Whatcha doing there?" I ask. "Just putting up the finishing touches on my master plan." Donatello answers. "Master plan? For what, might I ask?" I inquire. "To get April to hang out with me." He answers.
Fair enough. "Try this, 'April, you wanna hang out with me?'" Leonardo said. I've never really been into a girl like Donatello is, but the only girls I've really spoken to is my sister and one of my friends. But it's almost as if Donatello has a crush on April. That's probably the thing.
"This is not that simple. I have to prepare for every possible response to maximize my chances of success." Donatello said. I snuffled. While that does sound like a smart thing to do, it would take ages to do so.
I have an IQ double to that of an Alakazam. It would only take me a few days at the most. Regardless, it's smart, but it's next to impossible.
"Aw, that's so romantic." Michelangelo said. "Look, I know just about everything, but I'm not an expert when it comes to girls. I want to help you, man, but I got nothing. I would, however, like to hear what you have so far." I said.
"Okay. For instance, if April said she can't because she has homework, then I will suggest an informal study session and serve healthy, brain-stimulating snacks." Donatello said, pointing to his diagram. I flapped my ears. "Impressive."
"What about if she's sick?" I ask him. "That's right here. I will make her soup and take care of her sickness." He tells me. I can tell he's been working on this for quite a while. "Well, what if she said she can't because you're a total nerd?" Raphael asks. I bare my teeth and half roar, half growl at him. "What?" He asked, taken aback by my sudden action.
"That's this thread here. I will list my non-nerdy qualities and suggest activities that will highlight my coolness, such as skateboarding or shark wrestling," Donatello explains. Raphael and I share a glance at each other. Shark wrestling, huh? Very interesting...
You know, speaking of which, I've had an encounter with a Sharpedo once. I suppose you could call it wrestling. I won, but it left several scars from the teeth. I'm dead serious, this actually happened.
I hear footsteps approaching. My ears perked up and I see April walk in, her laptop in her hands. "Guys." Donatello flips over the movie poster, hiding his diagram. He stutters a bit but manages to said "Hey, April." I shake my head.
"You guys gotta check this out," April said, pulling up a video on her laptop. Curious, I gather around with the boys. "Renowned neurochemist Dr. Tyler Rockwell has been reported missing." Rockwell? I remember him. Not sure if he remembers me. We haven't seen each other in a long time.
"I spoke with Rockwell's colleague, Dr. Victor Falco," A middle aged man appears on the screen. I remember him, too. "I haven't heard from him in days, so I stopped by his lab. The place was a mess and he was gone. I fear the worst," Falco said. I twitch my whiskers.
"If I may make a contribution, I do remember that the Kraang have been kidnapping scientists from all over the city, is that correct? If I had to guess, that's what happened to Rockwell." I said. It's my best inference.
Charmander gave me one of his growls of approval.
"There's only one way to find out. We should go to that lab and check it out." April said. "I second that motion. Something isn't adding up here, and I intend to find out what." I said, ready to head out when a green hand grabs my shoulder. "Where do you think you're going?" Leonardo asks.
"To Rockwell's lab." I answer.
"You know where it is?"
I nod.
"Great! We should check it out. What's that? You guys are busy? I guess it's just the two-" Donatello cuts himself off when he notices me. "I mean, three of us, April." I let him finish.
"Okay, then, let's go!" I said, excitement in my voice.
...
We arrived at the lab, courtesy of my tracking skills. A clicking sound caught my ears, and the door opens. "Interesting." I purr. Donatello used a digital lock pick to open the door. We enter the lab. Darker in there than it was the last time. I blew on my torch, spitting out fire, lighting it.
There were old, trashed chemicals, a desk with papers scattered everywhere. "Sheesh, this place is a rat's nest." I whisper, sensing a presence in the air. With my night vision, I saw a cage with a broken door. "Experimenting with animals. Makes me sick." I said in disappointment, shaking my head.
I saw a green glow coming from behind me. I turn around and see Donatello with a canister of... "Mutagen!" I said, louder than I wanted to. But I couldn't help it. I get paranoid whenever I'm around mutagen.
The presence of someone that I felt earlier was standing right behind me, I could sense it. I whirl around, roar, and pin someone down to the ground, growling in his face. April turned on the lights. That was when I realized who was cowering in fear underneath me.
"Aah! Tiger!" Falco said when he saw me. I'm fearsome, but I didn't know I was that fearsome. "Chillax, dude, I won't hurt you." I said charismatically. "You already hurt me!" He adds. "I admit that. I did hurt you. But I won't anymore." I said. "Rest assured, we're here to help."
Shortly afterwards... "I'm sorry. I wish I knew something about your father. But I don't." Falco said. "So what can you tell us about this?" Donatello holds up the canister of mutagen. I back away a bit. "Some shady, cooperative goon payed Rockwell a lot of money to experiment with it." Falco said.
"Is this the guy?" Donatello asked, holding up a photo of a Kraang costume. "That's him!" Falco confirmed. "The Kraang. I had a sneaking suspicion of that." I moan. "Well, I wanted no part of that stuff! Who knows what kind of... Monstrosities could result." He looked at me and Donatello. "No offense."
"Some/Not taken." Donatello and I said at the same time. "Perhaps that what was in that cage over there?" I point to the cage. "One of his experiments?"
"That's where he kept the monkey he was experimenting on." Falco answers. He's certainly not talking about a Grookey, or any of its evolved forms for that matter. An Ambipom isn't that strong. I'm not going through all the monkey Pokémon.
"I'll bet that monkey didn't like it in there." I said. "I know I wouldn't."
"Rockwell didn't treat it very well." Falco said. "I don't know who to feel bad for? Rockwell or the monkey." I said. Then an idea struck my head. I snap my fingers and place a paw on the desk. "What if the Kraang didn't take Rockwell? What if... If the monkey went crazy and took Rockwell. I'd go crazy if I was in a cage."
Man, I am on a roll tonight!
...
We were heading towards the nearest sewer entrance. "So how do you suppose to find Rockwell without any leads?" April asks. "Well, maybe we'll know more once we take a look at this flash drive." Donatello answers. "What flash drive?" April asked. "The one I swiped off his desk!" Donatello said, holding up a flash drive.
I gave Donatello a friendly elbow. "Nice." April said. "Looks like I'm not the only one that's on a roll." I add. Donatello puts his hands behind his head. "Keeping cool under pressure in the hole mark of a-"
He was cut off when a monkey landed in front of us. This monkey was huge! The monkey roared. Donatello protected April as I roared back at the monkey. "Careful, guys!" April yelled. "That's a dangerous mutant!"
"That makes three of us!" I said. Donatello and I spun our staffs. The monkey kicked Donatello away. He grabbed the staff, sniffed it, then threw it away. "Donatello, are you alright?" I ask with noticeable concern. He rubbed his head. "I'm good." He said.
Before the monkey could attack Donatello, I stood in his way and attempted to slash at him with my steel claws. To my complete and utter shock, the monkey dodged it and swung an arm square in the head. I fell with a thud, but still had consciousness. He swung hard, I'll give him that. But I can do better.
While I unintentionally let my guard down, the monkey attacked Donatello with hits that were too painful even for me to watch! I had to cover my eyes, he was getting beat up so badly! I was shaking in fear. Looks like the prey became the predator. A rare occurrence.
I peeked through my fingers occasionally, but covered my eyes again. The next time I uncovered my eyes, the monkey was gone. I think. I hope.
I was even more concerned about Donatello's condition than April was. "Are you hurt?" I ask in a mix of complete fear, concern, and desperation. "Just my pride," He said. "And my internal organs." He added before fainting. This was a stupid question.
I'm gonna have a heart attack if we don't get Donatello back to the lair!
...
Donatello regained consciousness by the time we got back, thank goodness. "What happened?" Raphael asks. "Donatello and I got attacked by a lab monkey." I answered. The boys look at each other. Leonardo took Donatello and helped him to the sofa.
"April, could you get an ice pack, please?" I asked politely. She walked into the kitchen, leaving the five of us to ourselves. I put a paw on Donatello's head. "Is he gonna be okay?" Leonardo asked. "He should be, yes." I whispered, rubbing Donatello's head. "Yeah, I'll be fine." He answered. I gave him a gentle lick in between his eyes.
"In that case..." The three boys burst out laughing. Donatello blushes. I'm confused. "What? What's so funny?" I asked. "You and Marcel got beaten by a monkey? In front of your girlfriend?" Raphael said, still laughing. Good news, I'm not confused anymore. Bad news, I'm getting ticked off.
"She's not my girlfriend!" Donatello retorted. "And that monkey was a vicious mutant!" I decided to get involved. "He wasn't the only one who saw it! One arm swing nearly knocked me out cold!" I hissed. The boys weren't convinced. "Yeah, I'm sure he went bananas!" Leonardo said, and the boys burst out laughing again. I flattened my ears. "No, no, no, no, he went ape!" More laughter ensued.
April walked in with an ice pack. The boys stopped their laughter. They'd better take that halo off before it comes down and chokes them. April put the ice pack on Donatello's head. He sighed happily.
"Are you laughing at him because he's hurt?" April asked accusingly. I nodded. "No, we're laughing because he was hurt by a monkey!" Michelangelo said, and the boys continued their laughter. I was furious.
I roared in pure rage, silencing the boys. "Enough!" I hollered, stomping a foot on the ground. "Does Donatello laugh at you when you're hurt?!" I ask, loudly. The boys looked down at their feet, assuming they're ashamed of themselves. "No." They answer. "And I don't laugh at at any of you when you're hurt, do I?" I asked. I got the same answer.
"All he's been trying to do these past years is help you! And this is how you repay him?" I roared. I wasn't even close to being done. "How you repay me?" I added. They were cringing in their shells. Good. "Are we nothing but jokes to you three, or do you just not care?" I lowered my voice.
"Marcel-" I held a paw up. "Not now." I said flatly. I continued my rant. "It has come to my attention that you three don't seem to care. Just as I assumed. I had a feeling you'd react like this. I'm starting to wonder if you three deserve to be our brothers." The last sentence caused Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo to widen their eyes.
"Especially you, Raphael." I pointed a finger at my so called 'best friend '. "Laughing at your own best friend." He had a pitying look in his face. "Or should I even call you that?" I sighed, shaking my head. "I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in you three than I am right now."
I was aware that my Charmander was watching this scene unfold before him. He wasn't happy, either. How could they? Donatello and I have been helping them for all this time, and this is what we get. I felt a lump in my throat just thinking about it. Not only that, but I feel tears coming on. I may be tough on the outside, but I can be sensitive on the inside.
"Now, if you'll excuse me," I choked out. "I'll be forming my own plan to find Rockwell." I turned around and walked away. But not before my 'best friend' tried to talk me out of it. "Marcel, please," Raphael said as if he was begging. "We didn't mean—"
Oh, for the love of all things great and small, did that light the fuse!
"SILENCE!" I roared at the top of my lungs. I breathed heavily. All hell has officially broken loose. "I don't want your pity! I want to be left alone!" I quieted down a little, but not much. I said the heck with it and let my tears, and a sob, loose. "Please," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just, leave me alone."
Raphael backed up, getting the message. I proceeded to walk away again. "Marcel, you didn't have to do that." Donatello said as I walked past him. I was still ticked off, but kept my cool. "I know... But I wanted to."
I was several feet from the boys when I laid down, my back facing them. Charmander wasn't far behind. He curled up in my stomach in an attempt to comfort me. It wasn't working, but he's trying. Now I'm forming my own plan. How? I'm not sure. Yet.
...
I had no clue how much time passed, but I didn't move from where I laid down. I was trying to not only form a plan on finding Rockwell, but get my mind off of the rant I gave the boys a while ago. And my headache wasn't helping.
And neither was Donatello patting my shoulder. "Marcel?" He asked gently. "What?" I spat the word out like poison. "We're going out."
"If this is about the monkey, why should I care?" The venom in my tone didn't dissipate. "Unless this is another excuse for you to start laughing at us again." I had to get this of my chest. Normally, I don't hold grudges against anyone. But these aren't ordinary circumstances.
"It's not an excuse! Why would you think that?" Raphael asked rather loudly. I got up, growling. "I'm not gonna take this from you." I got in Raphael's face. "I take orders from nobody. Especially from someone who finds suffering amusing." I said flatly.
"We do not find your suffering amusing!" Raphael retorted. "Is that so?! Then why were you three laughing at us a while ago?" I retorted back. No answer. I chuckled with no emotion behind it. "Yeah. That's what I thought."
"Listen, you're my best friend—" Growing furious again, I cut Raphael off. "If you were my best friend then you wouldn't have laughed at me. I thought you of all people would believe me. Guess I was wrong."
I turned my back on my so called best friend. "We can't be having these arguments constantly." I calmed down a little. "Just go. I'm staying here." Why can't they just leave me alone? "You're not saiding what I think you're saiding, are you?"
"What do you think I'm saiding?"
"That we're not friends anymore?"
I sighed. I felt like saiding yes, but wasn't gonna said it if it wasn't true. Our friendship was never at stake before now. I laid down, doing my best to avoid direct eye contact with Raphael.
"I'm really sorry I laughed at you. You deserve better than that." Oh, he decides until now to apologize to me. Well, it's a little late for that now.
That thought was cut short when I feel three pairs of arms around me, hugging me tightly. Just as I thought, the three pairs of arms belonged to not only Raphael, but Leonardo and Michelangelo as well.
Sooo, this is unexpected. Then again, I still leaned into their hug. I couldn't help but hear Michelangelo sniffling in my ear. This made me feel worse. I think he's crying. Poor kid. I put an arm around him the best I could to rub his back. I just sat there and let them hug me for what felt like an hour.
"Okay, okay, you three are forgiven. You can let me go now." I said gently. Slowly, they pulled away. Michelangelo still held on. I wiped his tears away with my paw.
"Sooo... Do we have a plan? Cause I got nothin'" I admitted.
...
"Guys, someone just spotted the monkey on Bleecker."
"I think I'm on his trail."
We were out tracking the monkey. I was completely hidden in the shadows, ready to pounce whenever necessary. I just hope that the monkey doesn't smell me.
I have this electrical collar that has a thought translator. At least this way, I have a way to contact whoever. It wasn't on speaker so only I could hear it.
"He's headed south on Delancy! I'm on Houston! I'll cut him off!" I said through my collar before seeing a silhouette of a monkey. Hoping it doesn't see, hear, or smell me, I chase after it. And then it was gone. Gosh darn it! It knows I'm following it!
"Michelangelo, the monkey's heading your way."
"I'm on it!"
I start running, humming my favorite song along the way. I stopped at a dumpster. I opened the lid and saw the monkey covering his face with his arms. He looks at me. I smile and hold out my hand. The monkey takes it as I pull him out of the dumpster.
A nunchuck is thrown at him, nearly trapping me with the monkey. "Watch where you're swinging that thing." I barked. "Sorry." Michelangelo said.
"Great, we got the monkey. But we're not any closer to finding Dr. Rockwell." Donatello said. "Are you sure?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I've got a feeling that this is Dr. Rockwell."
...
Rockwell is strapped in a chair, freaking out. I walk up to him. "Hey, hey, it's okay. Falco's gonna help you." I said soothingly. Uh oh. I'm spazzing out again. First, I'm talking to a robot, and now I'm talking to a monkey. I gotta sit down.
"Would you inject this into him?" Falco asks me. He handed me a needle with some odd liquid I've never seen before. I reluctantly take the needle, and Rockwell flips out again. I managed to calm him down.
I inject the needle into the monkey and give it back to Falco. He had an evil look in his eyes. All of a sudden, I don't trust Falco. "That should calm him down a little. Poor Rockwell," He said in a fake innocent voice. I felt like either drawing out my torch or unsheathing my claws. But I fought back the urge.
"Is there any way to get him back to normal?" April asks. "I wouldn't even know where to begin. But I'll see if there's a way to give him some semblance of a normal life." Falco replies, turning to Rockwell. I twitch my whiskers.
...
Raphael went out, but I forgot the reason why.
I was sitting down, unable to fight the urge to sing my favorite song. I tapped my front feet for a few seconds, then joining my tail in. I howled, getting into the music.
One minute I'm in Central Park,
Then I'm down on Delancy street,
From the bow'ry to Saint Marks,
There's a syncopated beat.
Whoo, hoo, whoo, hoo, hoo,
I'm streetwise, I can improvise,
I said whoo, hoo, whoo, hoo, hoo,
I'm street smart, I got New York City heart,
I did a somersault, sticking the landing. This is where things get hot.
Why should I worry? Why should I care?
I may not have it down, but I got street savior-fair,
Why should I worry? Why should I care?
It's just a bebopulation, and I got street savior-fair.
The rhythm of the city, but once you get it down,
I said, you can own this town,
I said, you can wear the crown!
Why should I worry? Tell me, why should I care?
I said, I may not have it down, oh, but I got street savior-fair,
Why should I worry? Why should I care?
It's just a doopulation, and I got street savior-fair.
Ev'rything goes, ev'rything fits,
They love me at the Chelsea, they adore me at the ritz!
Why should I worry? Why should I care?
Even when I cross that line, I got street savior-fair.
I heard this song on a movie, and I couldn't get it out of my head. It fits in well with my street life. I came to love the movie this song came from. It was my favorite song when I was a cub.
Whoo, hoo, whoo, hoo, hoo,
I said, whoo, hoo, whoo, hoo, hoo,
Whoo, hoo, wh—
A whistling noise threw me off my singing. I turned around and noticed that I had an audience. I turned to Charmander. "You didn't tell me I had an audience!" I said. He shrugged.
"You didn't tell us you could sing!" Raphael said, thoroughly impressed. Though I'm thinking he's more than impressed.
"Yeah, I can sing. Can you?" I asked. But now wasn't the time. "Donatello, I need to talk to you about something."
"Same." He said. "Something you said is bothering me." I tilted my head in confusion. "What is it?" I asked. "Falco said that Rockwell was experimenting on a monkey," Donatello replies.
"Go on."
"According to these notes, he never had a monkey in his lab. He was just using samples of monkey DNA."
"And how does that explain Rockwell?"
"If he never had a monkey, what broke out of that cage?"
I thought for a moment. When an idea hit me, I snapped my fingers. "It must've been Rockwell!"
"Which means Falco put him there and he's been lying this whole time!"
I threw an arm around Donatello, driven by excitement. "Me and him! Awesome detectives! Oh yeah!" I kept my volume in check. We all look at each other. We know what has to be done.
We are now confronting Falco about Rockwell. "Alright, Falco, we've had enough of your-" Leonardo was cut off by Raphael. "Do not said-"
"Monkeying around." Raphael and I said at the same time. "Jinx." I said jokingly. "I wasn't going to," Leonardo said. "Yes, you were," Falco said. "We know it was you who mutated Rockwell!" Donatello said.
"Here's what doesn't make sense to me; why would you mutate your own colleague?" I ask with a slight edge in my voice. "I used him as a Guinea pig," He replies. "Well, it didn't work. You turned him into a monkey," Michelangelo said. I shake my head. Falco injects the needle into himself. Oh boy...
"The psychic neurochemical I extracted from his mutant brain is changing me. Your minds are opening up to me," Falco said. I just growl. "So this was your plan all along." I said, getting down on all fours.
"Of course. No man can defeat you when you know his every thought." Falco said. He can't read my thoughts. I have a metal plate in my head.
"Oh, really? Then you must know that I'm going to smack-"
"Smack the white off my lab coat? How humorous!" Falco interrupted Raphael. I shuddered. Creep.
"Lucky guess!" Raphael charges to attack Falco. He tries to kick him, but he misses. The unthinkable just happened! Raphael never misses! Falco grabs Raphael's foot and throws him to a wall. I winced. I don't know what's worse; that or Donatello getting beaten by that monkey earlier today.
"Whoa! It's like he's psychic!" Michelangelo said, amazed. "That's because he is psychic, Michelangelo." I told him. "But he's not the only one."
I rush at Falco with supersonic speed, and tackle him to the ground. If he could read my mind, I'd be on my stomach by now. "What the- Why can't I read your mind?" Falco said, frustrated. I knock on the metallic armor on my head. It sounds like hollow metal.
"Wh- Impossible!" Falco said. "Totally possible." I whisper in his face, right before I turned hostile and growled in his face. I unsheathed my claws and raised my paw. "Aah! Don't kill me!" He's scared now.
"I should," I growled, "But since I'm not a heartless killing machine, I won't." I finished, sheathing my claws and stepping off of him. "However," I said just as Falco stood up. "This one's for Raphael." I back kicked him in the stomach. He held his stomach and sunk to his knees, the wind knocked out of him. I chuckled, satisfied with myself.
"You've read my mind." Raphael said as we collided our hands together in a short arm wrestling match. Best joke I've heard all day.
But the fight wasn't over yet.
Falco grabbed my shoulders and threw me in the opposite direction. "I have a metal plate in my head. You cant read my mind. But I can read yours." I curl my paw into a fist, then open it up quickly to unsheath my claws. He tries to dodge my dash, but my arm collides with his neck, knocking him down on his back.
He kicks my feet, and now I'm on the ground. Falco gets ready to attack me again, but something tugs down on his lab coat. Falco and I look down to see my Charmander pulling on his lab coat, growling all the while. "Get off!" Falco kicks my Charmander in the face. Oh, he's in for it now!
I spring up, jump off a wall, and perform a corkscrew, while hitting Falco with a series of punches. The corkscrew I like to call Dragon Rush. The punches are Close Combat. Close Rush? Dragon Combat? No, wait, leave the names to Michelangelo.
I punch Falco one last time with full force. The impact of it sends him crashing into the wall, leaving a large dent. Falco, defeated! Donatello takes the mutagen Falco had. "Now then, let's see how much Falco knows about the Kraang — aaand he's gone, great." I said, exasperated. Oh snap, I forgot about Rockwell!
I unstrap him from the chair. He steps to the window and looks at us. Thank you, turtles. And tiger. He called me tiger. He doesn't remember me. Fair enough.
"I'm no psychic, but I think he's trying to thank us." Donatello said. The monkey nods and jumps out the window. "He said thank you." I said to the boys. "Um, if he reacts to angry thoughts, is New York really the best place for him?" Raphael asks. That's a good point.
"Hey, monkey, get off the-" I heard monkey noises, then a car alarm, and some crashes. "I think he'll be okay," Leonardo said sheepishly. "You sure?" I ask him. Charmander shrugs.
...
We were back at the lair once again. I was sitting outside Donatello's lab. I was about to enter when he came out. "Hey, April, you, uh, wanna hang out tonight?" He asked April. He's finally gathered the courage to ask! I stand on two legs and rub his head.
I wasn't paying attention to whatever April's answer was. Something about training was all I heard. I don't suppose Donatello has that on his flowchart, does he? "Well, then, maybe we can train together sometime." He said. Yup, he did. "Sounds great!" April said before walking off. I give Donatello a thumbs up. He starts dancing around. "You see? My flowchart is awesome!" He said happily.
I walk to Raphael until I rubbed my head against his. He brought up the topic I didn't feel like discussing now. "Why didn't you tell us you could sing?" He asked.
"Small case of stage fright, I guess," I answer. "You sang in front of us with no problem. That wasn't stage fright." Raphael thought otherwise. "Call it what you may." I rolled my eyes. "Can you teach us that song?" Raphael asked. I didn't teach myself that song, but...
"Sure, I can teach you."
...
Seven episodes down, way too many to go. I hope 'The Gauntlet' won't take as long to write. Yeah, I'm skipping "Never said Xever." I apologize.
I feel like as time goes by, the movie Oliver and Company comes on less. Why is that? I wonder...