"Arise my brothers – arise dear sister!"

Mike is busy marvelling at the animation and sounds, "Sweeeeeeet."

"The Stars of Keekan align – all ye generals wake from your stone slumber!"

"Why would a 3000 year old Native American speak with 'ye'?"

"…'Cause he's speakin' it in English?"

"OHMIGOSH LEO THERE'S YOU!" Mikey points excitedly, kicking his legs like a child.

Leo is too busy reassuring a deeply humiliated Raphael who can't seem to sit up.

"There is NO way he could stand there without being blown off like an idiot!" Don protests from where he leans against Splinter.

Mikey sighs, "Don, quit pretending like you know to judge a movie and give it a rest," Movie-Leo takes a dive and glides through the air over the river, "Go Leeeoooooh wait, I'm still weirded out with you calling me 'cute'. Find someone else to give you big brother worship! Hmph!" and with that, Mikey crosses his arms and stubbornly sticks out his chin.

Leo looks up, eyes hard, "No one denies me that…"

Splinter warmly laughs at the current scene of his younger sons sleeping, "I will never understand how you boys can stand to sleep in such a mess."

The scene then reveals Movie-Leonardo has somehow entered the home completely air dried.

"Movie-Leo watches us sleeping," Donnie jokes.

"…What's wrong with that?" Leo asks, genuinely confused.

The two youngest brothers mutely shift closer to their father figure with deep disconcertion.

"…Nothing wrong with that…" Leo mumbles quietly to himself, still petting Raph comfortingly.

Raph just chuckles darkly to himself.

"Enter. Kneel, my son."

"'I can't Sensei'," Raph voices for Movie-Leo, "'I've got a bad knee bone that nearly got grinded to dust by a freaking anaconda; in fact, I'm my own fully grown turtle from these two years survivin' alone and I expect YOU to call ME-"

"I return from my training, Master. I was so caught up in my own world, I forgot about everyone else. I'm sorry I failed…"

Leonardo chews his lip, "If I went into the wild without any prior skills or know-how to survive there how can am I so spotless? There's no visible scaring or even a tiny frayed part of the mask or anything."

"That is what crosses your mind?" Raph waves a hand at the big screen before them, "Are you even looking at the internal display animated on your Movie-self?! It's making me squirm!"

"On the contrary, my son. Now you are much stronger."

"…Somehow that feels like the incorrect thing to say," Splinter is regarding his movie incarnation with scepticism.

"Your strength is needed here now."

"Aaand there's Movie-Raph! Popping up just when Movie-Leo is done coming close to pouring his heart out and the context can now be incorrectly translated to anyone who is eavesdropping from this point on. Geeeeniuuuusss!"

"Mike, it's an overused cliché."

From his spot shrunken into the seat, Raph shrugs at Don's tone and says in a smaller voice than usual, "Eh, it's cliché but it doesn't make these sort of misunderstandin's less real."

"…True."

"Heck, Movie-me is looking in on 'em but I bet he's just seein' more reasons to feel bad despite the fact Movie-Leo ain't even smilin' 'bout receiving that medallion," then he adds faintly, "Done it enough times myself…"

"You owe me no apology. But perhaps you should talk to Raphael."

"Because mending bonds is long and difficult, requiring a conscious effort from both sides to fully heal. This is why you prepare your long-awaited son…" Splinter quickly reels in on his counterpart, "Or are you just hoping for a quick-fix now that the one Raphael happened to gripe over for is returned? Surely you've had talks with your troubled son long before this, yes?"

Mikey rolls his eyes, "Sensei, you're giving your Movie-self way too little credit."

He sighs, "It is… something in my gut, my son. As much as I respect his voice actor – may he rest in peace – I feel there is a reason I cannot fully approve of this version of me… I'm just trying to find out why that is."

"Good. Because until you can act as one, you are forbidden to fight."

"See Master? Common sense of precaution," Mikey cheerfully asserts, "He's still an acting father and sensei, he's just… old and tired."

"I have missed you, Leonardo."

"I've missed you too, father."

The moment Raphael notices his Movie-version glancing away pained he lunges forward, ignoring the subsiding protest of his gut, "Oh don't you DARE feel sorry for yourself when those two ain't hugged for TWO YEARS YOU SELF-ABSORBED GIT! How can you be twisting this into fuelling your angst?! " he notices his startled family, "What? Just because I know how doesn't mean I give him a pass for it," and then he drops back down into his humiliated position.

"Raphael! Your brother is home!"

They attentively witness the awkward reunion.

"…That's satisfyingly realistic and brief," Don is satisfied with the edited outcome.

"Agree – doesn't stretch itself out or nothin'," Raph agrees from down below.

Leo warmly watches the other's reunion hugs and says, "How long has Movie-me gone without casual physical contact? That's so important for a healthy psyche… you don't stop for two years then start again just like that."

"…Come to think of it, how much eye-contact did Movie-you give Movie-April at the beginning? And what if he sat separate from her over the campfire, a dear friend who has no problem sitting at your shoulder, because he simply couldn't handle too much close contact?" Don strokes his chin, "Hmmm… fanfiction material…"

"No, you're just seeing something that's not there. Happens a lot. Sometimes in a bad way…"

"Yeah, but now I've got it in my head, and the implications are adding up-!"

"Okay Leo I'll bite – what are we doin' up here?"

"I told Splinter I'd get this team in shape again."

"They look perfectly in-shape to me."

Raph tries to figure out the time, "…Is this the same night… or the next?"

Mikey smiles cutely, "Bonding time!"

"Yeah," Donnie agrees.

"Is that really all I inspire in my sons when it comes to anything in connection to family? A narrow-minded emphasis on ninjitsu? Such unimaginative focus is beginning to come off as rather… superficial." Splinter ruins the moment again.

"Sensei, it's all Leo knows how to do. The fact he's using it to spend time together and stuff shows his love," Mikey bats his eyes with light-hearted drama.

"Right. And while you've been playing games little brother, this Nightwatcher character's come into the neighbourhood like some kind of vigilante showboat; but his days are done."

"Well that's a random shift in concern…" Leo admits his confusion.

"I'm sure there's a reason for Movie-Leo's interest… if the movie takes the time to show it?" Donnie tries.

"And why am I just taking charge? Where's the simple catching up from when I had left? Where's their interest? No one is going to respect my leadership if I just expect things to just happen like that at their expense."

"Crime never took a break. You did."

Leonardo takes a moment to regard Movie-Raph, "I really like the expressive animation on you."

"That's because Mike and Donnie don't really exist, so I get that bit more time and energy."

"And more self-serving denial," Don adds, "Leo wasn't on a break and he knows it."

There's a sudden roar off-screen.

"Oh yes-!" Raphael abruptly straightens up like nothing had ever happened; muscles tighten in anticipation, "A monster fight scene-!"

"Oohoh, someone's cranky!"

"My gosh – why are my puns are so by-the-book?"

"Why do we have puns at all?"

"Okay Jungle-boy, grab a vine."

"Raph – wait! Splinter told us not to fight!"

"Heheh 'Jungle-boy'! Good one!"

"…Why are we so blatantly rebelling against Splinter's order not to engage in battle?" Don astutely buts in as Movie-Don and Movie-Mikey go ahead with it, "Why ignore Movie-Leo when we welcomed him with open arms just before? Why follow Movie-Raph's lead when he's been really difficult towards us for so long? Why are we just merging into the plot's momentum without individualistic character development here?! Why has my Movie-self not shown any more personality depth? So far he's utterly shallow!"

With clear perception, Mikey hangs his head, "I held out my hopes, and they drop off the edge… this movie isn't about us as a family… it's about Raph and Leo!"

"The deleted scenes had us being far more interesting," Don's voice is flattening into cynicism.

Raphael is far too eager to realise their disapproval, "Look! The monster!"

Mikey screams. Don remains uninspired.

Leo face-palms.

"Bad news is this thing is going to run out of bodies soon."

"Yeah, so? You think we should help these guys? I'd rather enjoy the show; what do you say, Fearless Leader?"

A flicker of displeasure crosses Mikey's face, "Why am I antagonising Leo? I've got no reason to! Stop making me act like stereotypically disguised background dressing!"

"I say we stop talking!"

Raphael starts cackling abnormally once more as the Movie-turtles all follow Movie-Raph into a battle they have no understanding of and is blatantly not their business. Yay!

"…Why are Mike and I doing this? Do we not have individual brains?" Don is flustered, stirred enough to sit up from his father's warm side.

"You!"

"Hi Karai," Leo waves to the screen.

"I think we're getting off on the wrong foot here!"

"Foot," Mikey repeats, still sounding a little sour, "…I see what you did there…"

"We're trying to help you!"

Leonardo shifts in his seat at a sudden thought, "Wait. If I've been on my own in the wilderness for two years, with no communication during the last, how can I speak and interact normally?"

The question makes everyone quiet.

"Don't make us think during the action crap Leo," Raphael eventually answers.

As Movie-Karai leaps gracefully off the unfinished sky rise, Mikey graces the action with a, "Wheeeeeeeee."

"Bye Karai."

"A little help oh Fearless One."

"Did our Movie-selves notice that Movie-Leo was engaged in a sword fight with his bare hands?"

"…Nah."

Leo suddenly gasps, expression gripped in silent distress as Movie-Raph gets slammed through multiple metal thingies before hitting a support beam that, alone, stops him from mortally sailing over the edge.

Raphael rolls his eyes, "It's just a movie. I'm safe on my butt right here next to you."

He sits back, slightly twitching as his Movie-brothers get thrown and beaten about, "…Force of habit."

Despite being mostly wrapped up in the action, he takes the time to pat his arm, "You can get through this. Deep breaths."

Leonardo's deep breathes start hyperventilating as Movie-Don narrowly stops himself from falling down an unfinished elevator shaft.

Mikey graces the baseless objects tumbling down the unfinished elevator shaft with a, "Wheeeeeeee."

"Why is nothing happening?"

All turtles look to their suddenly-breathing-normally eldest fixed with decidedly bemused expressions as their Movie-selves battle a freaking monster and losing.

Leonardo points to the explosively action packed scene with a practised tactical eye, "Look – were having a fight with one of the monsters from the beginning which ties into the plot, but nothing really fundamental underlines it. It's a plot-device action scene with puns, but aside from what occurred before it, that's… it. And the camera isn't giving enough geography to reveal the fight as best it could, just a bunch of close-ups."

His brothers sit back, eyeing the scuffle anew.

"What did I say about making us think?!"

"Oh my shoulder!"

"My SPLEEEEN!"

"Wheeeeeeeeeeee!"

Movie-Raph decides to free-fall off the side in order to catch up to the downwards moving brawl.

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-!" Mikey hits his limit and collapses with a tight wheeze.

"…I'm so useless. You know, for someone who's been on a super special highly levelled training period around the globe, living in the wild and who knows what else; and yet I accomplish nothing in a fight against an animalistic beast," another digressing thought clicks in Leonardo's brain, "How have I adjusted to city life and manmade constructions again so quickly? And what about jetlag?"

"Stop! Thinking! You'll make me miss out on all of my-eer, our unquestioning awesomeness!" Raph frets.

"Ah, this place needed a skylight."

And his face goes blank at his Movie-self, "…There was... no reason to say that."

He then sits unenthusiastically as their suspiciously unharmed Movie-versions dramatically back-up and get cornered instead of making what use they could of their closed-in surroundings like they did at the start and then two flail on each other squealing – all for the above roof to drop on them.

"…I am disappointed."

Donatello pats his arm, "Hey, so far you've got a well-rounded movie-you. I'm sure they'll be moments where you won't be disappointed."

"…Thanks Don."

And then the stone generals make their commanding entrance…! Raph starts drooling again.

As the strongest one tosses the lunging beast to the ground, Mikey asks, "Why is the monster just lying there?"

"He's admiring the view of them from below," Leo remarks.

Their Movie-selves escape from the rubble and look down to where the behemoth had landed in the clutches of the stone generals.

"How did something that big just disappear, it doesn't-"

"What do you mean 'disappear'?" Donatello questions his Movie-self, "You're looking straight at the area still lighted by that truck, and they couldn't have removed the beast and themselves so swiftly in that time…"

"Someone DO something!" Raphael demands.

"Let's not get too emotionally invested in this-" Leonardo suddenly leans forward and snaps at the precarious exposure of the dawdling Movie-Raph, "OH MY GOSH RAPH – MOVE YOUR SHELL!"

Raphael jumps in his seat and almost moves himself.

"Ooooh yeah! The turtle are back dudes! I give us a ten for style, an eight for skill and a uh… two for… stealth…"

"…We… are… AWESOME!" Mikey elates as the construction site breaks apart.

END PART 3