Chapter two:
Splinter, Leo, Raph, Mikey, and Donnie all head out to the outskirts of the town. They're going to be testing out their weapons to try to pinpoint what's going on.
It's been a week since they realized the magic was disappearing. Yet there is no answers as to why, let alone how to stop it.
Donnie suggested this to try to study any glitches as closely as he can. He knows a controlled setting is a lot better than trying to do so in a fight. "Okay. Leo why don't you try a simple teleport to start?" He suggests to which Leo nods his head.
Leo prepares and does so with confidence and ease. He pauses which does catch everyone's attention. "That's weird." He mentions confusing the others. He glances off in a direction away from the city. "It's like there's something pulling the teleportation off that way."
The others turn to that direction at hearing this.
"Maybe it could be the answer to what is going on." Donnie suggests and soon enough they're all running in that direction.
Leo takes the lead in this following the direction his magic is being tugged towards. He leads them through a patch of woods to a n open grassy area with no trees.
In fact it looks like there isn't any plant life other than grass in a certain area here.
"This is it. This is where it wants to go." Leo explains so they step further into the area.
Their eyes open as they look around for anything out of the ordinary.
Donnie glances down to the ground and he sees it. "Guys wait!" He puts his arms out to stop anyone from going any further.
They all turn to him then follow his gaze noticing what he has found.
There is a crack in the ground, the crack has a middle while branching off a little in a few directions, that is only possibly important by the blue glow seen deeper in.
"Maybe there's magic down there? Magic to replenish our weapons?" Leo suggests staring at the glow. He doesn't feel threatened by the glow, he instead finds a warm feeling coming up as he stares. He doesn't understand it. He kind of wonders if the others feel it too. He doesn't get to ask as Donnie speaks up first.
"Well then there has to be a way down. At least then we can find out." Donnie mentions wondering if they'll have to dig their way down.
Before they can do anything the ground starts to tremble. They look down as the ground beneath them shifts.
"I've got this!" Leo tries to teleport them away only for nothing to happen.
The ground beneath them falls away, plunging them all suddenly down into the darkness.
No sign of the glow or it's potential source.
...
Donatello thinks he has done it so he heads on out to tell his family. He finds them in the dojo probably preparing to face the task ahead. "This should work." He holds up the now more bulky and clunky looking scanning device. "It's not as smooth as I would have liked but that'd take longer." He has been a bit anxious about getting this in working order. So he had to skip any worrying over how nice it looks. "I haven't tested it yet. However as soon as I do it'll probably tell us where to go. So I might as well test it with you all along."
"It won't explode right?" Michelangelo remembers Donatello telling him about machines exploding, that is if there's some sort of issue.
"I did put some general safety procedures in. That should help to keep it from exploding." Donatello tries to assure his brother who seems to be trusting him on this.
Everyone gathers around still giving a little space just in case.
"Okay Donatello give it an attempt." Master Splinter instructs to which Donatello nods.
Donatello starts up the device and selects the far reaching scan. He hopes he gave it enough power and memory to pull it off. He sees it is a little slow in loading. Though he keeps his hopes up.
The entire room is all holding their breaths as the device works on the task.
Donatello feels some relief when the screen shows that it is scanning as far as it can. "So far so good." He mentions which does help the room breathe a slight sigh of relief.
Though the anticipation of if this will work is still high.
After a few minutes the device beeps as it shows that it's picked something up.
"I think this is it." Donatello tells his family and he checks on the signals location. "It's actually outside of town. Whatever it is it's sending a strong signal."
"Then we investigate it. It could be the source of the unstableness." Master Splinter declares and the others nod in agreement. "Lead the way Donatello."
They all leave the lair, Michelangelo and Raphael texting April and Casey about this asking them to keep take care of their pets if something happens, and head for the signal as Donatello follows it. They walk a little away from town before coming to a field.
One that seems to be like a middle of nowhere type field. Where only grass can be seen.
"It should be right there." Donatello points to a spot so they all cautiously approach. He puts the device away in a spot on his belt for safe keeping.
They glance to the spot thinking that they'll find perhaps an item causing all of this. They instead find something else.
There is a crack in the ground, the crack has a middle while branching off a little in a few directions, that is only possibly important by the blue glow seen deeper in.
"That glow must be the reason for the unstableness." Donatello suggests as they all stare at the crack and the glow.
"But it doesn't feel threatening." Michelangelo points out. "That glow feels warm and not like a threat at all." He glances around and everyone seems to feel it too.
The ground begins to shake catching them all a little off guard. Allowing for the ground below them to crack. It breaks just as they're about to jump away to safety. Taking them all down as it plunges them into the darkness.
In the darkness the two groups fall to float in an area too dark for them to see anything. They don't even realize that, even with a gap between them, there is the other group beside them.
A glowing light appears, looking like a glowing eye with no eyeball just light, as if one opened their eye. The light shining upon the Rise group on the right. A second one opens confirming the light to be eyes, this time the light shining upon the other group. The eyes are huge and able to view them all at once with space to see more.
The two groups stare in shock as a figures form appears. They are too mesmerized by what's in front of them to notice the other group.
The figure looks to be a turtle, looking like it comes from the 2012 groups world not the Rise, with its body being a ghostly light blue almost as if it is some kind of spirit figure. A type of spirit none of them have ever known before; though it gives a look of a spirit as spirits colours are lighter and slightly transparent like this figures ghostly blue. It's body features are outlined in a slightly darker blue. It is giant at least compared to the two groups. It looks familiar to the one group however they for some reason can't place who it is. It doesn't have any sort of mask on or any other item of clothing. It's look is calm with no hint of surprise at seeing the two groups there. It seems to just stare silently at the groups for a few moments. Almost as if studying them before it's eyes close, it's form fading away.
Leaving the groups in pitch black darkness once more. The two groups feel solid ground beneath them appear and a breeze blow by. They open their eyes to find themselves laying in a field. They get to their feet to try to get their bearings. They glance around only to find themselves looking at each other. Both sides equally as shocked as the other.
Donnie swallows a little harshly as a thought occurs to him. "You're from another world. Aren't you?"
"It would appear so." Donatello confirms looking over the Rise group curiously.
"Whoa! That's so cool!" Mikey heads over walking around the other group looking them over. "You look so different from us yet still turtles!"
"Well in the belief of the multiverse it is believed that anything is possible." Donatello points out as both sides take each other in. "I just haven't been able to find any actual proof that the multiverse existed. At least until now."
Raphael circles Raph checking out the large snapper. "Huh. So many things seem to change. I didn't expect such a change from another world." He admits as he stops his circling of the other.
"Did you all see that giant figure?" Michelangelo questions getting nods of confirmation.
"We suddenly fell into the ground after finding this crack with a glow in it." Mikey confirms to which Michelangelo blinks.
"Us too!" Michelangelo confirms and they realize they were taken from their worlds by the same way.
"Wait. If a group from two worlds are standing here together, after having seen that figure, then where are we?" Donnie questions and their attention switches from each other to their surroundings.
The area truly does look like the middle of nowhere. It has plenty of unkept plants and trees. It also has no roads, homes, or even cities anywhere in sight. It truly makes it hard to be sure where they are exactly.
Master Splinter turns to Donatello. "Do you still have your device? Perhaps we can scan this place and see what we can find. Is it able to find potential cities or anything like that?"
Donatello nods and pulls the device out. "Yeah. I could try it. It does tell me locations that pop up on screen. So I could probably find a nearby city." He tries it while all eyes are on him. He lets the device do its thing before it indicates that it's picked something up. "Hold on. It's picking up something. A signal that is definitely powerful. More powerful than the signal back in our world." He looks to Master Splinter. "Should we follow it Sensei?"
Master Splinter nods his head to this. "We can. Based on that we learned that our world was becoming unstable, then perhaps we have been lead to the source."
"Wait your world was unstable?" Donnies question brings attention to him.
Master Splinter nods his head. "Yes. The spirit realm is also affected. Something was causing something to be wrong on both living and spirit sides."
"I don't know about your world but our world has magic." Donnies words do surprise the other group at hearing this.
Leo teleports over to stand by Leonardo which does surprise, and slightly fascinate, the other group. "Because of the magic we got an awesome ability each." He slightly boasts before Donnie takes over explaining.
"However magic started to suddenly disappear. We followed a magical signal to what we thought was the source. Before we ended up here." Donnie looks a little thoughtful. "Perhaps our world was also unstable for some reason. Which caused magic to start disappearing in our world."
"If both of our worlds were unstable then perhaps other worlds are too." Donatello points out to them as Donnie nods in agreement. "This one could either be the source or be one that is more unstable. I'm theorizing that it is the source. Because we both were brought here after finding that spot each in our worlds."
This does seem to make sense to them all.
"We will follow this signal and see where we are taken." Master Splinter points out and nods to Donatello to lead the way.
Donatello nods his head and takes the lead following the signal.
As they walk they kind of walk with certain others of the group.
Donnie stays kind of close to Donatello with glances over said others shoulder to check the device. He also makes sure that Donatello doesn't trip or anything.
Mikey and Michelangelo are walking together, with Mikey telling Michelangelo about their magical abilities.
Leo is walking with Leonardo talking to the other to try learn more about the other world.
Raphael is staying close to Leonardo. Though he is having some small talk with Raph who is also close by.
Master Splinter and Splinter are talking together about anything and everything.
Despite being in the middle of nowhere the area is quite pretty. It truly gives a good never touched by humans feel to it. It's also pretty peaceful.
They all do notice when the ground they're walking on turns to a more rocky ground. They pause to slightly glance around.
The land ahead is a more rocky area with some ledges and spots that go down below. The rocky landscape looks grey in colour.
Donatello glances to the device. "It is pointing to over there." He points to a spot where there is a destroyed bridge, one that is over a giant crack in the ground.
They walk to the edge peering down into it. They can actually see a bottom though the drop doesn't look like a safe distance to jump. They think that it's just barely too far of a drop to be safe even for them.
"I don't see any glow or anything." Donatello mentions glancing to his device. "I'll try to zoom in." He does so and looks back. "Okay. It's in a certain spot down there. I'm guessing in a cave because it's leading towards one of the walls." He informs them which confirms that they need to get down there.
Leonardo looks for a way down there. He spots some rocks not too far on their side. He swears that they have been slightly carved to make makeshift steps. "Over here." He leads the others there and they carefully climb down to the bottom. He turns to Donatello to take the lead once they're all safely down.
Donatello takes them to a cave entrance with crystals giving off a glow.
The cave has a tunnel full of crystals lighting it up just enough to see inside.
"It's coming from deep inside there." Donatello tells them.
"We stick together." Master Splinter speaks up. "We don't know exactly what we're dealing with yet. So we must be cautious. Also lets not use any magic." He looks to the Rise group. "At least not right now. Not until we figure out what we're dealing with. It could cause the magic to be sent back hurting someone or yourselves, or even even potentially drain it completely. We don't know."
With everyone in agreement they start their journey into the tunnel. They walk at a good pace while still being cautious and alert.
There is no branching paths in this tunnel as it is just straight.
Donatello stays in the lead following the signal on his device.
After walking a little in the cave they pause swearing that they hear something... From above... They swear it sounded like a kicked rock falling. They glance up realizing that there are ledges high up there that they can't see onto.
Leo is about to suggest he'll teleport up there, before Raph and Donnie shake their heads silently reminding him of what Master Splinter said.
They don't move as they watch and listen for any other noises.
The tunnel has fallen silent with no other traces of other sounds.
"Move forward. Keep extra alert." Master Splinter tells the whole group. "We may not be alone in here."
They begin moving again still alert for anything else.
Suddenly a quick moving figure leaps from a ledge tackling Donatello since he's in the lead.
They all stop and prepare their weapons getting ready for a fight, while the figure manages to pin Donatello. They get a better look at the figure only to pause in surprise.
"You shouldn't be here! What do you want!?" The figure growls in a threatening warning. Even glaring at the others as if warning about trying anything. The figure is a Raph who looks like the one from the other group, 2012, not the Rise. He looks slightly different though, especially the scars on his body. He has a scar across his lips on the right side by the edge of his lips, one slightly thick one across the left side of his neck diagonally pointing to his chest. His arms are positioned where they can see the scars there. He has a scar across the middle of his outer facing upper right arm, another in the middle of his inner facing lower right arm, a scar on his left arm just above the elbow, then a slash across the middle of his lower left arm this time facing vertically instead of horizontally. His legs aren't safe either from scars. He has one above his knee on his left leg plus one on the back of his ankle, his right leg has one on the back of his mid thigh, one across his outer facing mid lower right leg, and a smaller one just below on the outer facing mid lower right leg. His eyes sweep over all of them. "Answer my question or get the hell out of here!" He demands still ready for a fight.
"We're not looking to fight you." Leonardo tells this worlds Raph, Raphie, as he and the others put away their weapons.
"Then why are you here?" Raphie stares at them still tense for any making a wrong move. His guard remaining as high up as ever.
"We come from other worlds." Leonardo explains, the others letting him do so. "We were trying to figure out what was going wrong with our own. We thought we found the source where we saw a glow. The ground broke taking us away from our worlds. We did briefly see this ghostly figure, it looked like a turtle, before waking up in this world. We thought that this was where the issue was coming from. So we followed the signal." He nods to the device knocked out of Donatellos hands. "We just want to try to fix what is making our worlds unstable. That is all."
Raphie glances to the device before he looks over all of them. He finishes with Donatello then after a moment he gets off of him. He moves to stand to block their way further into the tunnel. "Alright. I believe you."
Donatello gets up grabbing his device.
Michelangelo heads over to make sure that his brother is okay.
"If you don't mind me asking what are you doing here? In this cave?" Master Splinter watches Raphie closely as if something about this bothers him. "You clearly do not want anyone to reach whatever is down there."
They all stare at Raphie wanting answers about what is going on.
"Of course I am. No way am I going to just let anyone get to the end. I am to protect this space." Raphie explains before Master Splinter pushes with his next question.
"And what exactly are you protecting?"
Raphie's eyes flicker to scan all those there before seemingly giving in to something. He can see the others are wondering this as well. He seems glad that they don't know what it is. "Okay look. I'll show you but you can't tell anyone else about it. And you don't try to destroy anything. It'll be easier to explain this way. I am putting my trust in you with this. Don't make me regret it."
The group nod to agree with his demands before following him deeper in.
Donatello puts away the turned off device, as they believe they're about to get answers.
They walk through a spot that kind of looks like a rocky entry way. They find themselves stepping into a decent room with plenty of space. Their eyes immediately looking at the thing providing the light for this room.
A large tree is sitting straight ahead. It looks to be made of light blue crystal, with gems all in a diamond shape looking like other gems hanging. The gems hang from the branches, there is no leaves on the tree, like fruit on a tree. The gem colours are varied in that they are each one colour of a rainbow. It is a large tree easily towering over all of them.
No one even notices that off to their right is a hammock, put between two pointed crystals sticking out of the ground, where Raphie sleeps. They're so focused on the tree before them.
Raphie moves a little closer to the tree looking at it. "This is what I'm protecting." He tells the gawking group.
"I've never seen anything like it." Mikey gasps as he examines the tree from where he is.
None of them can get their feet to move to even try to inspect it closer.
"It's magic isn't it? What exactly is its magic?" Donnie looks to Raphie as do the others who are curious about the tree as well.
Raphie turns from the tree to look at the group. "This tree isn't anything bad. Yes it is magical. Actually it's magical power is probably the strongest ever. This tree believe it or not is actually connected to the multiverse. Keeping worlds stable and able for individual things to happen in each." He nods to the tree slightly glancing back to it.
"I don't understand one thing. If this tree is supposed to keep the worlds stable, then why were we lead here when trying to find the unstableness?" Donatello inquires still not fully sure what to make of this whole thing.
It almost sounds like a fairytale, though honestly what had happened to bring them here does help in believing it.
Raphie gives them a rather serious look. "That's actually something I need your help on." He admits surprising the group. "The tree is responsible for the unstableness, which causes things to happen in the worlds across the multiverse, but the tree is not at fault. Listen, the tree is dying and I can't figure out why. It's magic is disappearing. And as such a side effect is the worlds feeling the change as well. We need to figure out what's going on before this tree dies. The whole multiverse could collapse if we don't. That's why I need your help."
"Have you spoken to your worlds Donnie?" Mikey inquires blinking curiously with such innocence. A finger placed by his lips adding to his curious look. "Donnie helps us when there's issues only he can take care of. Plus he's really smart. Yours might know something."
"As much I'd love to I can't." Raphie tells them causing some confusion to sweep over them. "My Donnie is dead. So are the others."
They all freeze at hearing this in surprise and sympathy for Raphie.
"We're sorry to hear that." Master Splinter speaks up to which Raphie nods softly to him. He knows that it is a form of thanks for his kind words.
"It did happen a long time ago. So it's fine. I'll never forget those I cared for however I'm doing just fine." Raphie tells them making them curious just how long ago. He seems to pick up that they are curious about it. "All that had happened about three hundred years ago. So I've had plenty of time to work on everything that comes with losing everyone." He blinks as they all gap at him at hearing this.
"But that's impossible!" Donnie shakes his head for a moment, as he tries to wrap his head around this.
"Are you sure you're not remembering that number wrong?" Donatello inquires not sure that he can believe that.
"Does this make you like immortal!?" Michelangelo stares at Raphie eyes shining at the mere thought of it.
"Not immortal. The number is right. It's just that the tree has stopped me from aging. I can still be killed like in battle though. Just no longer die by aging over time." Raphie explains to them which does seem to fascinate them, especially Donnie and Donatello. "So. Do you think you can help figure out what's going on with the tree?" He brings the subject back to what is important right now.
"Of course!" Splinter confirms as Master Splinter nods in agreement.
Having been broken out of their fascination, at how long Raphies been around, Donnie and Donatello look at the tree to try to study it.
"Is it alright if we look at the tree up close and really inspect it?" Donatello questions before Donnie can start to move closer. "I know you asked us for your help. But it'd make me feel better if I asked first."
"Yeah. Just be careful to not do any harm to the tree." Raphie reminds him to which Donatello nods.
"We won't." Donatello and Donnie approach the tree examining it on a closer level.
They are careful to not even leave a scratch on the tree. They know how important it is to the multiverse and to Raphie.
Raphie keeps his eyes on them, though is clearly alert to his surroundings, as he makes sure nothing bad happens.
Raph approaches so Raphie can see him in the side of his vision. He doesn't want to potentially spook the other, as it's not sure that Raphie fully trusts them yet. He is grateful for the trust that has been given, even if it's not full complete trust. "You're sure you're okay? You have had a lot of time to process things. However. We know they were still your family."
"Really I am alright." Raphie assures Raph watching as the two Dons briefly talk to each other. "I came to terms with it years ago."
"If the tree stopped you from aging why not your brothers as well? Then you all could have protected the tree together." Michelangelo inquires glancing to Raphie.
"It was offered." Raphie admits to them as the Dons head back towards them. "But in the end they decided to turn down the offer. And I wasn't going to force it on them. They would have had to live out here like me to keep the tree safe and healthy. Not being able to leave things to focus on the city. Leaving the city open for attacks. They decided to live out their lives and protect the city. They'd of course visit and I knew I could ask them for help with anything." He can't help a small smile. "We actually came here while on a training event for us away from the city. One thing lead to another and here I am. The guardian of a magical tree." His attention shifts, his face going to serious, as he focuses on the Dons.
The Dons do look ready to share anything they may have found.
"Physically the tree is definitely looking okay. As far as I can tell. It definitely is the magic that is being affected. Whatever it is it's not visible." Donatello starts off before Donnie takes over.
"A quick scan of the tree didn't yield any results that could say for certain. The device isn't made to scan the magic to figure it out. It's meant to bring us to the location of its signal. So, we're still in the dark about what's happening. It could be something internally with the tree, an outside source that is hidden well, or even possibly hidden at another location." Donnie explains glancing to the tree. "They're good starting points in this investigation. Especially with how little we were able to find in the trees inspection."
Everyone takes notice when the hanging gems flicker as if their glow might die. They see the glow come back to the gems before staying that way.
Raphie walks right up to the tree placing a worried hand on its trunk. "We'll find a solution." He whispers to the tree before turning to the groups again. His hand still resting on the tree.
"Well I could tweak my scanner a bit to see if there's a way to follow an issue to the source. I would just need some place to work and the right tools." Donatello offers and Raphie brings up a simple question.
"This world or your world?"
"It'd be faster to do so in my lab. Since I know where everything is. If that's possible that is." Donatello receives a nod from Raphie.
"But how are we going to be going to a specific world?" Mikey pipes up causing Raphie to smirk slightly.
"Like this." Raphie turns to the tree. He seems slightly focused. He pulls away with a hazy blue mist dancing around his hand. He shifts his hand to make a general circle shape by him.
The blue mist swirls before opening up to show the world needed. It's outer edges having the blue swirling mist.
Raphie does a small hand flick like a signal that he doesn't need the magic with him anymore, so the mist around his hand vanishes with all of it going back to the tree. "And it's done." He tells everyone who check out the portal. "It doesn't stay open for very long. So wed have to be quick."
"Does the tree have a way to replenish any magic used?" Donnie questions looking right at Raphie.
"Yes. I've been using it for so many years. The magic is able to replenish very well. It's helped in fighting whatever is happening. Though it won't be able to fight it forever."
"Don't worry. We'll figure out what's going on and help fix it." Master Splinter tells Raphie giving him an assuring smile.
Raphie nods gratefully to Master Splinter for this. He leads the way through the portal as the others follow. He is clearly coming to help open the portal again to go back, or at least until they find a way to contact him to open the portal.
"Will the tree be okay while you're gone?" Mikey inquires glancing to the closing portal. "I mean what if someone else goes for it?"
"I have set up sensors that let me know whenever anyone enters the cave." Raphie assures them. "Trust me I knew that there had to be something in place. Since I travel to the worlds of the multiverse to keep an eye on things. Ninja skills really come in handy to stay out of sight when doing so." He mentions as they head to get to the lair to go to Donatellos lab.
They all hang out in the lair while Donnie and Donatello go into the lab to work.
Raphie shifts clearly still very worried about the situation going on.
"There's more of us to help now." Leonardo points out to Raphie. "We'll figure this out."
Raphie nods. "Yeah. I just can't help worrying about the tree. I don't want things to get worse."
"We understand." Leonardo gently pats Raphies shoulder. "And we won't stop until we can find a way to help that tree."
Raphie nods softly to this. He does seem relieved and thankful for their help. Despite that he's still worried about things.