An hour later, April's car drove up and pulled over in the turn-out Leo had found. She was greeted by an enthusiastic Mikey, a quiet Raph (for once), and a thoughtful Donnie. As Casey got out of the car, April asked, "Where's Leo?"
Mikey stilled and silenced, then said, "I'll get him. Don, Raph?"
"We'll fill 'em in," Raph promised, clapping Mike's shoulder brotherly. "Go ahead." Mikey scampered off into the forest and Raphael turned to their human friends. "Leo's become half-dragon," he said blandly.
"W-What?" both April and Casey stammered. Don took up the tale.
"Yes. He's got a fifteen-foot wing span, has grown about a foot in height, has red, slitted eyes, horns, and a humongous appetite. The story is a long one, and one better kept for when we're warmer."
"Fifteen feet?" April gasped. "That's huge."
"And they need oiling every few days. Mike does that. He and Leo have really bonded over the last few weeks. Here they come now," Raph snickered. Indeed, a few bushes rustled and out stepped Leo.
April just barely held in a gasp; Leonardo was not the same. He was taller, with wings, a blacked-out mask, horns, scales, and a tail. He seemed… darker, too, and apprehensive. Also, to balance this, he seemed lighter, like he was full of life.
"Hey," April said weakly. "You look…"
"Different?" Leo chuckled. His voice was hoarse and deeper, too. "Yeah, I know."
"April, Casey, meet Leonardo, new and improved!" Mikey's voice said from Leo's wing, which was held slightly open. Casey strode forward.
"Mikey? You in there?"
"Yeah."
"Whatcha doin'?" Casey asked, poking Leo's wing.
"Keeping warm," came the reply. Leo opened his wing further and Mike's head appeared. "It's nice in here. And since I'm a reptile, I like this heat a lot!"
"Do you do that often?" April asked, sitting on the hood of her car and trying to organize her thoughts.
"Increasingly," Don assured her. "You see, with Leo's new instincts from his dragon half, Mikey looks – mentally and emotionally – to him like a dragonet. Leo, hence, is like a dragoness, a female dragon. Specifically, in a very primal, instinctive way, Leo thinks Mikey is his dragonet."
"Not really," Leo protested. "My instincts to protect you all are heightened, not just Mikey."
"Yeah, whatevah. Let's beat it; I'm tired and hungry," Raph complained, yawning. "It's almost dawn."
"Raph, you and Don can ride home with April and Casey. I'll take Mikey and meet you there," Leo planned. "We'll see you there."
Raph nodded and opened the back door to the car as Mikey took off his and Leo's harnesses, since they didn't need to fly with them anymore. Don accepted them to carry back in the car, and April watched as Mike grabbed onto Leo's shell – having to jump to reach the top – and Leo opened his massive wings.
April gaped in wonder as the blue-wearing turtle drove his wings down and shot into the air. A noise of astonishment came from Casey as the wind buffeted them. Soon, the pair was lost to the darkness, and Raph was calling for them to leave. He was hungry!
When they arrived at the farm house, April parked the car in the barn, careful to make it take up as little room as possible. The turtles used this barn as a recreational center and training dojo, and it would not be beyond them to try driving through an obstacle course.
When they got outside of the barn, Mikey was grinning at them and a delicious smell came from in the house.
"Where's O Winged One?" Raph asked, opening the faded door and heading for the kitchen.
"He's with Master Splinter. Come on!"
They walked into the kitchen and suddenly, a groaning sound came from above. Before they knew it, purple goo had coated all three turtle brothers. Casey was walking far enough behind to be exempt, and he laughed until he was red in the face.
"Mikey!" Raph growled, wiping the ooze from his eyes.
"It wasn't me!" Mikey protested, squealing as Don grabbed him. "I swear! Turtle honor! Bushido! You guys aren't going to believe me, huh?"
"No," Raph said, gathering a ball of the goo and advancing on the pinned Mike. "But this might make up for some of it." He stuffed the goo into Mikey's mouth and the orange-banded turtle's eyes bugged as he tried to spit it out. Raph let him, only because he didn't want Mike choking, and on released their brother.
"Maybe that'll keep ya from pranking us again!" Raph sneered. "Still, being caught in your own trap is probably pretty embarrassing."
"It wasn't me," Mike argued, spitting more goo out. His face darkened. "I think I know who. Follow me… silently."
Raph and Don looked at each other as Mike ascended the stair case, then shrugged and followed, far enough behind that any traps Mikey had laid would be broken by him first.
Urgently, Mike made the "silence" motion and beckoned them forward. He was standing at the door to Leo's room, and his face was caught in a mischievous grin. Then, he made a "listen" signal and carefully cracked open the door. Leo's deep chortle met their ears, and he seemed to be breathless in his laughter, as if he had had a laughing fit and was just getting control of himself.
Raph and Don leaned in as Leo stopped laughing and spoke to himself. "Boy, Leo, you sure got them good! And a double whammy; they blamed it on Mikey!"
The turtle brothers reared back in surprise; Leo had pranked them?! Leo?!
"Let's get him!" Raph whispered. Leo started chortling again, and Raph's temper blew. Before Mike or Don could stop him, he had burst through the door, intent on getting revenge for the joke played on him.
Mike and Don joined him in the room, which was dark. A lamp was standing nearby; Raph flicked it on, and a beam of light illuminated a recorder. Leo's chuckles were emanating from it.
"It's a-"
"Trap?" a lazy voice drawled above them. "Yeah, I suppose so. I didn't think you'd actually bust in here, Raph." All three were downed from a swipe of a wing from above them, and Leo landed lightly on his feet, wings out and glittering in the lamp light.
"You set this whole thing up?" Raph demanded, looking up at Leo. He stood up carefully, not wanting to be hit by the wing again. It packed a punch, to be sure.
"Yeah. And you walked right into my trap, like mice." Leo shifted and his tail flickered out, turning on the lights. "You look awful," he teased, eyeing the purple goop. "I didn't think it'd cling so much."
"I'll show you clinging!" Raph roared. Backed by Don and Mikey, he jumped Leo, whose wings snapped open. Mike and Donnie landed on them, their weight pulling Leo to the floor and pinning him there. Raph stood over him, grinning maliciously.
"Time for payback!"
Straddling Leo's plastron and holding down the elder's arms with his knees, Raph gathered another ball of slime.
"Hold him down!" he shouted as Leo bucked underneath him. Don, the smart turtle that he was, pushes Leo's wings out with the help of Mikey and tied them off so he couldn't use them. Then, he grabbed Leo's tail and held it still, so it couldn't hit anyone, and Mikey sat on his legs.
"Ooh, big bro, you should know better than to prank us!" Raph snickered, holding the slime ball up in triumph. He smothered Leo's face in it, causing the blue-banded turtle to struggle against him harder. However, he was sorely pinned and he knew it, so Leo went limp and suffered through.
Raph was satisfied; Leo was covered in goop, and was not about to prank them again. He, Mike, and Don stood back, letting their brother struggle against his restraints that held his wings out from him.
"Should we leave him?" Don asked evilly. Raph spared him a glance before nodding and walking out; Mike followed with Don close on his heels.
Leo sighed and leaned back, spitting out more of the stuff. It didn't taste all that bad, but it was really sugary. He hoped Mikey hadn't eaten any; he'd get such a sugar high!
An explosion suddenly rocked the house, accompanied by April's panicked cry and a pained shout from Mikey. Leo's eyes widened; were they under attack?!
Lights flooded the farm house.