"Raph, cut that noise."

Raphael swung one final blow into his punching bag before spinning to look at Donatello. "Why," he asked heatedly, "cuz it's four a.m., and I might wake somebody up? You rather I scream and then head topside with my weapons, like ol' Fearless Leader?"

Donatello sighed, closing his book. "Look," he said, attempting to be reasonable despite his lack of sleep. "I'm not exactly enthused about the way Leo is choosing to handle this. But give him the benefit of the doubt. He's always been the one to want stability and structure. With Master Splinter gone… we don't have that anymore. Leo doesn't know what to do, and that's probably hurting him just as much as his loss and the guilt he probably feels."

"Puh," Raphael spat out, whirling back around to attack his punching bag some more. "Guilt? He thinks he's got a reason to have guilt?" Holding the bag steady and looking down contemplatively, he quietly added, "We're the ones who gotta be feelin' the guilt. We just assumed Splinter was gonna make it outta there. We left him behind. At least Leo stayed… even if he was too far away to do anythin'."

Worried, Donatello put his book down. Ironically, he had been reading his copy of the DSM-IV, hoping that looking around for trauma-induced mental disorders would help shed some light on his brothers' recent behaviors. Other than Leonardo's night terrors, Raphael had also been behaving strangely in the wake of Splinter's death, and Donatello wasn't sure if this could be attributed to a case of borderline personality disorder or-

He didn't get the chance to bring forth his theories. From behind the sofa Donatello was sitting on, a turquoise light suddenly shone brightly. "What the-?" Raphael remarked, stepping towards Donatello and readying his sais.

Donatello stood up, shielding his eyes from the intense light. "Guys!" Michelangelo called from his bedroom. "What's with the pyrotechnics? I'm tryin' to get some shuteye!"

Just as Michelangelo made it out of his room to survey the situation, the light dimmed away and a small figure emerged from within. Lowering his hand, Donatello knew who the visitor was before his eyes fully adjusted to the newfound dimness of the room. "Usagi?"

"Pardon my rude entrance and lack of salutations, my friends," the samurai said with a quick bow, "but this is of the utmost importance." His eyes scanning the room and quickly noting that one of the turtles was missing, he asked, "Where is Leonardo-san? I must speak with him."

"He's out," Raphael answered, putting his sais back. "Clearin' his head or somethin'. Why? What's up?"

Raphael's answer seemed to trouble Usagi. Taking a step towards the turtles, the rabbit worriedly asked, "Tell me, has he been experiencing violent dreams as of late?" Not liking the fact that Leonardo's nightmares might have something to do with Usagi's unexpected appearance, Donatello responded that he had.

Looking down, Usagi murmured, "Then it is as Tomoe Ame feared." Returning his gaze to the three brothers who were gathering around him, Usagi took a deep breath before going into his explanation. "The news of the great Hamato Splinter's death has stretched across the multiverse, and Lord Hebi hopes to finally gain his revenge on Leonardo now that the four of you are without a leader. It has been whispered that a powerful sorceress named Akumu has been hired by Hebi, which would prove disastrous. Her magic attacks the mental realms of her victims, and she takes the most pleasure in toying with the minds of those who are sleeping. This makes them shiftless, aggravated… and she enjoys more than anything to play with her prey before issuing the death blow."

"Sounds like a great gal to go on a date with," Michelangelo murmured sarcastically. Unaccustomed to the use of wryness, Usagi looked at him quizzically before the turtle was pushed away by Raphael. "You sayin'," Raphael started, "that this Akumu chick's the reason Leo's been so messed in the head?"

Usagi nodded. "This is so, as far as rumor and observation have led me to believe. I have come here in hopes of disproving this idea, but what you tell me about Leonardo-san's present state has led me to realize otherwise." Looking down, he sighed and added, "I am to bring him to Yume-sama, then. Perhaps she can help."

"Yume-sama?" Donatello asked.

Meeting Donatello's eyes, Usagi explained, "Yume is the sister of Akumu. They are polar opposites, the two of them. One is the yin to the other's yang, to speak metaphorically. Tomoe Ame has made it so that my next journey back into my world will lead me straight into Yume-sama's castle. I was to bring Leonardo-san there and hope that she would be able to heal him of her sister's darker magic."

Looking back to his book on the sofa, Donatello muttered, "Magic. I never did like magic." He gazed at the rabbit and told him, "Usagi, I don't know. Leo's told us about your world, and I don't think he'll be able to handle it right now. What if Hebi discovers that Leo's over there and sends out an attack? Leo's in bad shape, and I don't know if the three of us have got what it takes to get him out of it-"

"Maybe you ain't got what it takes," Raphael interjected, suddenly twirling his sais between his fingers. "But if one 'a Hebi's assassin punks tries to lay a finger, paw, or tentacle on my bro, I'm goin' to town."

"There will be no need for a voyage into the town, Raphael-san," Usagi said. "Yume's castle is in the middle of a lush forest. There would be many chances for you to use your Shinobi training amidst the cover of trees."

"Cool it, bro," Michelangelo told Raphael, choosing to ignore the easy joke in the rabbit's misunderstanding. "Seriously, I think the last thing Usagi's planet needs is Mount Raph to go off and spread destruction everywhere. I kinda see where Donnie's going with this. When we get right down to it, Leo's sick. This is like sending him into outer space while he's got the flu or something. Only… this is sending him into… a different dimension… with a mind flu. Get me?"

"I understand your concern," Usagi spoke before Raphael could make a retort. "However, Yume-sama has most likely already heard of Lord Hebi's plot, and is expecting me to return with Leonardo. The best that I can do is await his return, and then the three of you may join us. If there is any trouble, rest assured that I trust in our capabilities to keep Leonardo—and one another—safe from harm."

"Sorry, Usagi," Donatello said sternly. "Until I know who this Yume-sama is and understand what she intends to do to my brother, I'm not giving up on simple psychology. Despite everything I've seen, I remain convinced that a case of nightmares is nothing that Leonardo shouldn't be able to get over with the help of some psychological medicine."

"Your strange medicine may work, Donatello-san," Usagi said, mystified by this unfamiliar medicinal science Donatello seemed to place such stock in. "Let us reach a compromise, then. Come with me to speak to Yume-sama, and we shall see whose argument stands: her magic, or your science. If nothing else, it shall perhaps soothe your mind as to the intent behind Yume-sama's involvement."

"Hold up a minute," Raphael interrupted. "I'm goin' with you. If we're worried that it's too dangerous for Leo, how we know it might not be too dangerous for Don?" Michelangelo nodded his head and agreed, also offering to go with them.

Shaking his head, Usagi said, "There is no need, my friends. You fear for Leonardo's safety because his disturbing dreams have weakened him, and this is understandable. Donatello-san is as strong as ever, and so he is well fortified against any potential danger. Besides, this may prove most useful. I myself am wary of using magic that I have never before dealt with. Perhaps Donatello-san's intellect will see through any flaw in the mysticism and also ease my own doubts." Intrigued, Donatello murmured, "The world of magic meets the world of science. I like it."

Looking at Raphael and Michelangelo, Usagi said, "In any case, Leonardo-san will not take kindly to returning to an empty home. You shall stay here. The portal I am using to travel back and forth between my world and yours is of a special make, and should make it far simpler for Leonardo-san to travel through. If he returns before Donatello-san and I do, you can decide whether you wish to relay the story and follow after us. Otherwise, we shall be back as soon as our scholarly debate is over." Not without some misgivings, the two turtles watched as Donatello gathered a duffel bag with some equipment while Usagi reopened the portal.

With a single wave from Donatello, the pair soon went on their journey.