During the long week being in their hidden places, it had been a struggle to find food and stay warm enough, as there was a good chill in the air. There was no snow luckily. It was at least in the 50's right now temperature wise. It got down to the 40's at night at the moment, but there would be sure to be another arctic blast soon.
Mikey and Klunk stayed warm enough below ground. The cat did try to keep his master warm enough.
Raph had to make campfires at times. He went through Coney Island's food and soda supplies. What was left of them.
Don and Splinter had tried to keep each other warm. Don would have to leave though to find food for the both of them since he wasn't as injured. He also got some medical supplies.
…
Leonardo had made to the ship port in Japan long before Yogami had attacked his home. The ship had arrived today back in New York. It was now a week later since the attack on his home, even though he wasn't there at the time.
Leo looked out the port hole and made sure it was nighttime before he snuck off the ship. He had his trench coat on just in case if he was spotted.
Soon, he was glad to get to the sewers. As he got closer to home, he muttered to himself, "Wow. I've been gone so long, I actually missed these old sewers." As he neared the lair's entrance, he saw the damage. "Oh, no! The lair!" He gasped in shock. The Ancient One's premonition had been accurate.
He was going to find out who did this! He took off his camping gear and trench coat and took out a katana, and approached the lair very cautiously should there still be someone in it, waiting for them to come back to it.
He walked into the remains of the lair and saw the extent of the damage. "What happened here?" he asked himself. There was virtually nothing left of his once, precious home. Then he noticed something on the floor.
Leo knelt down and saw it was the remnants of a shell cell, not knowing whose. There was no way to reach them by shell cell then. But he would know of a way to get in contact with his human friends. And he hoped Randall was alright. He knew the lizard came down more often.
Then Leo heard something, like something moved. He went on to see what it was, and to draw it out of hiding. Or could one of his family still be here?
From above, a machine was still in the lair. They would often come and switch when one needed to leave. The man in it was using infrared rays to see even if there was an invisible body. But it picked up a turtle's body, the one that was left to take care of! The driver went down at once.
The turtle in blue turned to see his opponent. It was a huge red and black machine.
The man started firing at the turtle immediately. Leo dodged the blasts the best he could. He landed behind some debris. "You dare come into my home and do this?!" He demanded angrily. He took out his other katana as well and then he did short work of the machine.
It shut down and fell to the ground. Leo got off, but then went to see who it was.
The door was now open on the machine. The man lay there, winded. Leo slashed the seatbelt that he wore. He looked at the symbol on the uniform. It was one he had seen before, a long time ago before his mental state was harmed.
"The Dark Dragons!" Leo growled. He grabbed the man by the shirt and put a katana at his throat after he had put one sword away. "My family, where are they?!" Leo demanded angrily.
"You'll get nothing from me!" The man said and he pushed away from the turtle, hitting a self destruct button.
Leo knew what he had done and the machine began to act up. He jumped off the machine and ran for cover, out the front exit of the lair. The man did the same, but on the other side.
The machine self destructed and just as Leo had gotten out of the lair, it exploded, sending him flying several feet. He cried out at the force of its blast. But he landed safely. He stood up. "I need some answers." he said.
Leo went topside and went to his friend, Angel's house. He knocked on her bedroom window on the fire escape.
Her curtains were closed and the window locked. Angel opened her curtains after his knocking. She saw who it was and unlocked her window, opening it.
"Hey, whoa! This is a pleasant surprise. What brings you by, Leo?" Angel asked.
"Angel, my home is destroyed and my family was nowhere to be found, have you seen any of them?" Leo asked in a worried tone.
"No. I haven't. I'm sorry to hear that." Angel said. This also arose an anger in her too.
"Listen, Angel, I need your help." Leo said.
"Anything, Leo." Angel said.
"Now this is what we're going to do…" Leo started his plan to get some answers to what happened.
…
There was a Dark Dragon black van outside April's. They detected activity at April's door. A girl with purple hair and several ear piercings walked up. It looked like she had a pizza box in her hands.
They scanned Angel's face and had no file on her, but they wanted to see what she was doing there. She went inside the shop.
April was sitting at her counter, reading a newspaper. She had on a black sweater at the moment, with khaki pants. She had many pictures of the turtles and Splinter surrounding her at the moment. She looked miserable. Then there was a voice.
"Yo, Miss. Miss, I got your pizza you ordered." Angel said.
April looked up. "Pizza? What? Angel?" she asked.
Angel winked at her. "That's my name, don't wear it out. Now do you want this pie or not?" She lifted the lid to reveal a note.
April lifted it to her eyes and read it: 'Lair is destroyed! Have you heard from the others? - Leo'
So Leo was back? He wouldn't be getting that letter after all that she had sent, but he would be getting the news now.
April took out a pen and wrote on the back of the slip of paper Leo had written on. She knew to play along in this part to avoid the hidden danger. She knew her apartment was under survelliance right now.
"I ordered a pizza alright, but this isn't it. This is the third time this month you guys have ordered the wrong pizza! I'm going to write a note to your boss and I want you to take it to him. This is an outrage, an outrage!" April shouted at the girl. She put the note and the lair's picture in the box for Leo to see.
"Whatever, lady." Angel replied with a wink.
Outside, the Dark Dragons had a clean record on Angel.
Angel dropped the pizza box off at a phone booth close to April's. She went on past.
The top of the phone booth was open, at least for the moment. A sword suddenly came down onto it. It was Leo's. He had tied a rope to the katana and was now pulling it up to see April's response.
He untied the rope and tucked his sword away when he got it to the roof he was on, then he opened the box. He picked up the note.
"Leo, I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say. The others are… Yogami says he got them all. He says, you're next. Please be careful. He left this." April's note explained.
Leo's eyes saddened as he read the note. He saw the Sewer Sweet Sewer picture, how it was all bashed up. Then he closed his eyes to prevent the tears from coming on. "No! He's lying!" He let go of the paper and it blew away in the wind. "They're alive! I know it!" Leo then ran off to try to find his family.
After Angel had taken the pizza box and note away, April went down to the basement to talk to Randall. She knew Leo would be nearby.
Randall let April into his room. He was stoic at the moment. He had been going through the grief too. His door had been open to her.
"Randall, Angel was just here!" April exclaimed. He looked at her. "So?"
"Leo's back! He has to be nearby! You need to go out and catch up with him! I know you may not be the happiest with him for what happened before he left, but he's our only hope to find the others right now! Go!" April urged him.
Randall knew she was right. "Alright." he said and left the room. He would leave through the basement and come up from the alley in her driveway.
He came out invisible. He scanned around and didn't see him. He tasted the air and found Leo's scent. He followed it.
Leo had gotten over a few rooftops when he heard a voice. "Leo! Leo, wait up!" He stopped at that voice. It was Randall. He looked back and didn't see him anywhere. He must have been invisible. There were still so many humans still out for the evening walking around and noisy enough for them not to hear Randall's cry out.
Randall finally appeared to Leo when he caught up with him. He saw the lead turtle seemed just fine. He didn't know what to say to him.
"Randall? Are you alright?" Leo asked in concern.
When Leo had spoken, the lizard saw and heard an instant change in Leo's voice. Something different, something… from the past.
"Yes, I'm alright, and April's alright. The leader of the Dark Dragons, the one that hurt you months ago, came to the shop and told April what he had done. We haven't been to the lair, but you should stay away from it." Randall explained, a little out of breath.
"I already know, Randall. It was destroyed." Leo replied. "I now have to find the others. And they haven't come by to see you?"
"No. If they are alive, I'm sure they went to find cover until they could regroup. But that's hard telling." Randall said.
"I got in a fight with a machine by the Dark Dragons in the lair. It self destructed, but now that it's gone, I need to go back to the lair and examine to where there could be possible places they went. You're the best chance that I've got to finding them faster. Will you help me?" Leo explained and asked.
Randall could see the determination and sadness in his friend's eyes. This was the Leonardo he had known before the mental issues. He sighed. "Yes, I'll help you. But you've got a lot to make up for!" he declared to Leo in a firm voice.
"Yes, I know. And I'm sorry for it all, Randall. And thanks. Let's get going." Leo replied.
They both went back to the sewers and went back to the lair to get started. Leo took out his flashlight and showed him around the lair. Randall couldn't believe how horrible the lair looked.
"Where are you guys going to stay now?" Randall asked.
"We'll find a place eventually." Leo said. "Can you check the upstairs rooms?"
"Yes." Randall said and Leo pointed the light up to him so he could see. The room where the mech had been up there had been Don's room.
Randall saw that the room was destroyed too. All of Don's projects were gone. He felt bad for his friends. He would make sure to help in any way he could.
The lizard checked all the rooms for signs of life, but nothing. They were all out of the lair, somewhere else for sure. When he got to the workshop, Randall saw a hole drilled in the wall.
"Leo! I see there's hole that was drilled in the wall that wasn't there before!" Randall called.
Leo was currently in his father's room and came running when he saw the wall as his friend described.
"It looks like the Tunneler made that. One of them was in it. Can you make out who it was?" Leo asked.
Randall tasted the air. "Mike. His cat too."
"Randall, you go after Mikey. I saw that the Shell Sub was gone too. I'll go after Don." Leo said. "You may not want to hold your breath for a long time underwater."
"No, not particularly." Randall replied. "Alright. I'll go."
"Meet back at your room with Mikey. I'll come and get you when I've found Don." Leo said. Randall nodded.
Randall went through the hole, with his tongue leading the way. Leo nodded and went back to start his search in the water. He managed to get in and went downward. He would find Don.
Randall followed the drill marks and soon found the Tunneler. He would have to bring Leo back to it later, but he went to check it out to make sure Mikey was okay.
When he got the door open, he tasted the air and found nothing inside. There was no stink inside, so there was no body in there. But still, it needed to be looked at some more. This was so hard to take in, but he would be there for his friends.
Leo was now swimming in the river, looking for Donny and the Shell Sub. He found the sub on the bottom with his flashlight. And he found Don's scuba gear. His eyes widened. He went up to the surface after he grabbed the scuba gear.
"That was definitely the remains of the Shell Sub down there. And Don's scuba tank is nearly empty." Leo said to himself. "Alright. So much has happened. I have all the pieces, now I just have to put them together. Like the Ancient One taught me. Relax my mind. Allow thought to flow in, and without." Leo began focusing his mind on meditation to see what happened.
In his mind, Leo could see what happened with Don and Splinter in the Shell Sub, how they had been chased and subdued. They had played it smart and sacrificed the sub, fooling the ninjas who had chased them. At least he knew that Don and Splinter were together.
Leo opened his eyes. "They'd have come ashore right about here, and then headed for the pier, looking for shelter." He examined their tracks. Splinter had been leading the way with Don stepping on his father's right after. Leo followed their tracks until he got to the peer and the tracks were gone. Now he would look through every warehouse until he found them.
The first building that he came to, he got on its roof and saw it had a cracked window opening. He jumped down, being absolutely silent.
Close by, there was a presence. Leo sensed it and he turned, pulled a sword out. The presence was also ready to fight if needed. He saw the body shape.
"Donny?" Leo asked. "It's me." he said in a kind manner.
Don relaxed when he saw it was Leo. He almost couldn't believe it! A pain went through his left foot, and he put his bo down to support him like a walking stick. "Leo! You're back!" he said, and limped over to Leo. He had been ready to protect both himself and his injured father, since he was the far less injured of the two of them.
They took each other's right hands and shook them while Leo placed his left hand on Don's right shoulder. "Are you okay?" Leo asked.
"My son." Splinter said, coming forward next.
"Master Splinter." Leo said. "I knew it, I knew you were both alive." Splinter placed a hand on his right arm. "Don't worry, Sensei. Everything's going to be fine. I promise."
Don leaned on him, "Oh man. It's good to see you, bro."
"We've got to get you two out of here before anymore Dark Dragons show up." Leo said.
They left the warehouse. Leo had an idea of where to go for a new place so they wouldn't crowd April's place or Randall's room. He hoped Randall had found Mikey.
Leo led Don and Splinter back to the basement just as planned, and then they could go together.
….
Randall had found a bag of food and some kibble and a comic book when he went further down the train tunnel. He knew Mikey must be nearby. He could still taste his scent on the air. He followed it, carrying the comic book in his lower right arm. He knew Mikey would want a comic to read.
Randall heard a train come and got out of the way. After it passed, he continued on up, then, he saw a shape like a turtle lying over in a crawl space by the wall. He knew Mikey was often a deep sleeper.
Just as he got closer, a cat gave out an angry sound. It was Klunk. After what they had been through, Klunk was just being defensive.
"Hey, Klunk, calm down. It's me, Randall. You know me." Randall said calmly.
Klunk caught the lizard monster's scent and he calmed down. He gave off a gentle kitten like meow. Randall petted him. Then he sat down next to Mikey. He put his hands on his left arm and shoulder.
"Huh? Randall?" Mikey questioned. "Is that you?"
"Yes, it's me. I've come to get you to safety." Randall said.
"I had this strange dream." Mikey rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Klunk jumped off of him as Mikey rose. Randall helped him to his feet. He let him put his arm on his upper shoulders to help him back to his place. Klunk followed along beside them.
"It's going to be okay, Mike. Your brother, Leo, is back." Randall said as they went.
"He is? Where is he?" Mikey asked.
"He went into the river looking for Donatello. He agreed to bring him back to my apartment. Then you guys can worry about finding a new place to stay." Randall explained.
They soon did get back to the basement, where Don and Splinter were. They didn't see Leo though.
"Where's Leo?" Mikey asked.
"He went to go look for Raph." Don said. He was lying back on the bed, trying to rest his sore foot. It felt good to be in a bed again.
"Are you alright, Michelangelo?" Splinter asked.
"Yeah, I'm alright, and Klunk's alright." Mikey replied. He let go of Randall and went to the bed as well.
Randall knew he was going to have a full house in his room, but it was worth it to know that his friends were all alive.
….
Leo found the Battle Shell all blown to smitherines. He saw some tracks behind it. "Looks like the Battle Shell took a missile." He examined the tracks. "But these could be Shell Cycle tracks." He followed the tracks until he came to an underpass. He saw something lying in the road. "And that is definitely Raph's helmet."
Leo held up the helmet and closed his eyes again. He saw what Raph had gone through in the Battle Shell on its last run before being destroyed. Raph had gotten away on the Shell Cycle and ran over the bridge for Coney Island.
He opened his eyes. "The D train. Coney Island. I hope Raph is in better shape than his helmet." Leo admitted.
At the fun grounds at Coney Island, Raph had had a tough many days living there. He hoped his family was safe. He had just finished off a soda and threw it away. Then there was a shadow that approached.
Raph growled and stood, ready for a fight if it had been ninjas that had tracked him down. He twirled his sais.
"I thought I'd find you here." The voice sounded familiar.
"Leo?" Raph asked, wanting to know if he was real. He smiled. "Leo, am I glad to see you." He relaxed. "Leo, they found the lair. They got to us. The others, I don't know what happened to them…" Raph's voice had a sad tone to it. "I…" Leo placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay, Raph. Randall and I found them. They're waiting for us back at Randall's apartment."
"I'm glad you're back, bro." Raph admitted happily.
"Come on. Let's get back to the others." Leo suggested. Raph nodded and followed without objection.
….
Raph and Leo made it back to Randall's apartment. "Guys, I found him! He's okay." Leo declared proudly.
Everyone looked over to see that Raph was fine.
"I see you found Mikey too, Randall." Leo said.
"Yes. He's fine too." Randall replied.
"Hey, I heard you guys were havin' a party!" Raph teased as walked in.
"Raphael! You made it!" Don said proudly.
Raph walked past Don. "Yeah, yeah." He walked angrily up to a wall. "I can't believe the Dark Dragons did this to us! I can't believe they took our home!" Raph yelled, clenching his hands into fists.
"Look, Raph. Nothing is permanent. We have to flow with change." Leo came up to him to try to calm him down.
Randall knew of words just like it. The Winds of Change.
"Perhaps Leonardo has learned a thing or two from the Ancient One." Splinter noticed. Leo was looking at him. "Yes. I can see it in your eyes. I have my son back." Then Leo looked away.
"I can see something else in your eyes. He will be well guarded and his skills are much improved." Splinter warned Leo about Yogami.
Randall was sure he had never had to face Yogami himself just yet, but he would be happy to take him out as well, if he could help in any way possible.
Leonardo would like to face that asshole again for what he had done to him in the past that had made him like that in the first place!
"Do you know where to find him?" Randall asked Leo. "I'd like to help too."
"No, Randall. They need you here. I'll be back, guys. My skills are improved too. I'll be careful." Leo said. "And when I get back, we'll go find a place of our own again. Randall, thanks for your help and hospitality, but we don't want to stay here for long and make it too crowded in this one room for you."
"There is a van outside on the street, so you can't be seen. Even I have been down here in the basement a lot more since we heard about the attack on your home before knowing you were alive." Randall explained. "And you can take all the time you need."
Upstairs, April was starting to hang some curtains up in her shop for privacy from the ninjas looking in. It was her shop. They had no right to see in. She would only open them for business so her customers could see what she had during the day.
"I'll be back soon." Leo left the room to go dish out some revenge on the enemy. He was going to make sure that Yogami really paid for what he had done. Even if it took a few days.
Splinter was lying on the floor in Leo's camping gear while he let his sons have the bed.
"Yo, Randall. How about some sodas or somethin'?" Raph asked.
"And some pizza! And Chinese food." Mikey added. Klunk meowed. "And some kibble."
"I'll see what I can do." Randall smiled at his friends. He could put up with them because he was glad they were all safe. He wished he could help Leo, but yes, with the others all worn down and had a few injuries from the battle, he would look after them.
He went upstairs. April was watching TV. "April." Randall spoke up.
"Hi, Randall." she said.
"The guys are all downstairs. They are wanting some Chinese food. Can you order some? I think you have some pizza mix. Mike wants some pizza." Randall explained.
April perked up when she heard that. "They are?" She got up and went downstairs and greeted them.
"Guys! It's so good to see you alive!" April said happily, but saw that Splinter was injured. They all had some bruises. Randall walked in behind her.
"Hi, April." Don said with a smile.
April gave hugs to Don and Mikey. Raph said hi. "Of course, Randall and I can get you some food. We'll be back soon." The woman declared and pulled Randall out the door.
April called the Chinese order in while Randall began to make some pizza in the kitchen. Her curtains were drawn so they wouldn't see Randall either. Randall made a big meat lovers pizza.
Soon, the pizza was done, just as the delivery guy delivered the Chinese food. Randall vanished while April got the order and paid for it. After he was gone, the two of them took the food down to the guys.
Don, Splinter, Mikey, and Raph were beyond famished. It had been a hard many days in their places of shelter to just get food. They hadn't gone to April's in fear of leading any ninjas there. April had managed, but Randall couldn't been seen either.
The friends all had a great dinner together, making sure to save some for Leo for when he got back. Mikey had also been glad to get the comic book back.
…
Leo had asked some punks around the city about where the Dark Dragons could be found, and they had said in the lower Bronx.
Leo found his way there and he found the headquarters. He didn't care how long he was gone. He knew his family couldn't be in better hands.
He found his way inside the big mansion-like building. Up at the top was Yogami's lair. He would be sure to even the score, tonight.
Yogami was doing some paperwork, figuring out orders when there was a picture thrown on his desk. It surprised him for a moment, but he didn't flinch.
"Hello, Yogami. Got your message." Leo said in a low voice.
"I am impressed. Security here is very tight. And yet, here you are, undetected." Yogami replied back.
Leo stepped out of the shadows. "So, you are the new Shredder."
"Yes! And I am your doom!" Yogami growled and got up, bringing a katana out. He didn't have his armor on though.
Leo took out one of his own katanas and twirled it in his hand, in a new kind of way, like the way the Ancient One had taught him to do. He and Yogami prepared to face each other.
"You have too far this time, Yogami!"
"Not far enough! Only when you lie battered and broken at my feet, will Oruku Saki truly be avenged!" Yogami exclaimed.
So, that's what this had been about. That stupid, evil Utrom again.
"Make no mistake, Leonardo, son of Splinter. Your path ends here! And I can finish what I started on you so long ago!" Yogami sneered, and then he attacked the turtle.
Leonardo retaliated. Their swords clashed and they rolled around the room. Leo started beating Yogami. "No! This can't be happening! I must have my revenge!" The man yelled angrily. He got away from the turtle for a moment and took out a communicator, but that was sliced in half.
Yogami was surprised. Then Leo's sword was on his shoulder. He kneeled at the ninja's code of honor when Leo commanded it.
"Go ahead. Do it! Finish me!" Yogami ordered.
Leo took his sword off and from when he remembered what had happened so long ago, he was just about to make a move to behead the man, but then, Yogami kicked Leo's legs out from under him. He ran for a hidden doorway in the room and got out. Leo had tried to catch him, but he had gotten away.
Leo glared at the door. What a coward! He left the headquarters before he could be discovered.
….
Leo was glad to be reunited with his family. He got the leftover pizza and Chinese. This was the first time in a long time he had had them again. He had missed them, though the Japanese food he had had while with the Ancient One hadn't been bad either.
Leo gave a new walking stick to Master Splinter. "This walking stick is said to have come from a very mystical and ancient tree. I got it with the Ancient One. I carried it all this way for you." The turtle said. This stick had some special curves on it, not like his old plain stick before.
"Aw! A very gracious gift. Thank you, Leonardo." Splinter said as his son kneeled and bowed before him since he was on the floor. "Welcome home."
April and Randall admired that they truly had their friend back.
"Did you get rid of Yogami?" Randall asked.
"I was just about to, but he got my legs out from under me and he ran through a hidden door in his office." Leo replied.
"He's such a coward." Don said.
"We'll meet again, one day." Leo agreed. "For now, you guys get some strength back first and then we'll start finding our own place."
Randall knew his friends needed the space to get well enough before moving. Mikey and Raph weren't too bad really, but it was Splinter who was the worst of them. Don had a sprained foot. It was bandaged and set to heal now.
Randall left his room to his friends and he slept up in April's apartment on her couch.
…
It was only for a few days that the turtles and Splinter stayed with them. Leo had gone out house hunting on his own. He found a place under Cental Park, under Belvedere Castle. He tore some boards off the entrance so it would be easier for his family to get into. Then he went to go get them, as they were recovered enough to travel now.
When he got back, he told the others that he had found a place and it was time for them to be on their way. April made sure they had plenty of bandages and medicine before they left. Randall wanted to go with them.
With his family in tow, Leo led the way to the new lair. It was far from the old lair. And it was an hour's walk to Leatherhead's now. Their croc friend had only lived about three minutes away from the old lair. They hoped LH was okay and the Dark Dragons hadn't found him.
Randall supported Master Splinter. Being older meant he didn't recover quite as fast as his sons did. He had some bruised ribs and a cut on the head still healing. His chest was also healing from when Yogami slashed him in his room.
Don still used his bo as a walking stick, but he was well enough to walk on his own. Raph would grab him if he were to start falling.
They soon arrived at the new place. When Leo showed it to them, they were all amazed at its size. Don stepped further forward. "This must be one of the earlier pumping stations for the reservoir. I think I've seen it on the old city's planning. Very nice!"
"It's incredible!" Randall agreed.
"And look at all the space." Mikey agreed.
"We can even use the water for some more advanced training too. Being turtles and all." Leo said.
"Not me." Randall said.
"I could even have more space for my own gym." Raph smiled.
"Of course, it really needs a lot of cleaning too." Mikey said.
"Nothing we can't all manage together." Leo said.
They all had had to clean up their other lair too when they first found it. Now it was just time to do it again. This time, they had an extra helper, who had four arms. Randall could get up into places that they couldn't without climbing gear on.
They were sure that April and Casey would be glad to help out too as needed. And for moving some of the bigger stuff, they would also need Leatherhead's help.
If there was also one thing that Don needed to do, aside from making a new security system, he needed to make some new shell cells.
Life had begun a new chapter in their lives with this new lair.