I know that there are at least 15 people out there 'following' this story, but 'only' 10 of you use to review. Usually, I don't mind that some of you don't – hey, it's better to read and not review than not to read at all! ;) – but if all of you review this chapter, I'll reach my goal of getting 100 reviews! (starts panting at the thought of 100 reviews) So please, review this chapter, even if you don't do it regularly!

I've been thinking of starting a new thread at my own little Stealthy Stories forum, where you can ask questions about this story or any of my other fics. You can ask me or any of the characters, 'real' or OC's, it doesn't matter. I got the idea when I noticed that there are several writers who have done the same – Askre and Pacphys for example, even though I'll never become as successful as them (all hail Pacphys and Askre!) – and there are some of you who have been wondering about this story. What do you think? Would it be worth it?

Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT, and I ain't even going to say that I'd like to, 'cause in fact, I don't. Having the rights to a pop culture phenomenon seems pretty complicated.

Chapter 10: Shredder gets a Pet

Donatello splashed through the sewers. He'd found a practical duffel bag (hint, hint) in his room, and packed some items in it, such as the painting of Carl von Linné and the pizza leftovers he'd found in the fridge. Luckily enough, he had put on a trench coat and a hat which he'd found at the lair's entrance. From his topside trip earlier, he recalled the cold weather.

'Tur att jag hittade den här rocken,' (1) he thought. 'Annars skulle jag förmodligen frysa ihjäl. Och det fanns ändå så pass många att dom trevliga reptilerna och råttan nog inte kommer att sakna den. Jag hoppas verkligen att de inte blir för ledsna när de upptäcker att jag har gett mig av. Åt vilket håll ligger nu hamnen?' (2)

He looked around, maybe hoping to spot a sign that would lead him on the right track. No such luck. "Antar att jag måste gå upp," (3) he said to himself. "Om jag bara är försiktig, så borde det inte bli några problem." (4)

He found a ladder leading up to a manhole, and climbed it without too many problems. He almost lost his balance when he tried to lift the manhole cover, keep a hold of the ladder and not lose his bag – he only had two hands, after all, and only three fingers on each hand – although that had never stopped him before – but that might not be important right now – anyway, he made it without falling down.

Donnie found himself in an alley quite like the one in which his brothers had kicked the Purple Dragons' butts. He scratched his head. "Så, vilken väg är den rätta?" (5)

After searching his surroundings, he decided that one way was as good as any, and started walking down the street.

Saki sat in his throne room keeping the TV some company, when his Foot phone rang. The phone signal was the theme song from one of his favourite movies.

"Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you, that is how I know you go on, far across the distance, and spaces, between us, you have come to show you go on, near, far, where ever you are–"

He snatched it up and pressed the button. "Hello?" he snarled. He wasn't in his best mood. First, Santa had kicked him out of the mall, and now he was interrupted in the middle of an episode of his favourite TV show!

"Master Shredder?" Baxter Stockman's voice said.

"Yes, it's me. What do you want?"

"I've got news for you."

"Oh really? This had better be good, 'cause I ain't missing the re-runs of My Little Pony for nothing!"

"… Anyway, I've picked up the purple turtle's signal."

"Oh, you have? That's great! I'm coming!"

The feared and respected Shredder took off for the doors, but crashed into Hun who came in right then.

"Master! I am so sorry!" the fatty gasped. He bent down, picked up his master, put him on the ground and dusted him off. "Please forgive me! I am not worthy!"

"Yeah, whatever. Hun, I got a job for you."

"Anything, master!"

"You got to tape My Little Pony for me.It's getting really exciting! The wicked witch is chasing Flower and Starlight!"

Hun saluted. He had since long ago gotten used to his eccentric boss's peculiarities. "Yes, sir."

"Good." The villain of this story bounced down the hall.

Stockman sighed as his boss skipped into the lab. He almost wished that he hadn't picked up the turtle's signal at all, then he wouldn't have had to call his master.

"Hi Stockman!"

"Hi, master."

"Where's the little dot that says 'blip…blip…blip…'? Huh? Where is it?"

"There," the poor scientist sighed and pointed. Sure enough, there was a little green dot quickly moving over the screen, saying 'blip… blip… blip…'

"So… where is it going?"

"Downwards, it seems."

"Well, I can see that!" Shredder snapped. "I mean, where's the turtle going?"

Stockman put his hands up, as if to say 'no harm meant'. "He seems to be on his way to the south end of Manhattan, towards the Castle Clinton National Monument."

"Oh, I've been there. It wasn't very cool, actually. I think it's overrated. Do you think that I could catch up with the turtle and tell him that it's really not worth it?"

Stockman raised his eyebrows. "Um…"

"'Um'? That's not a very scientific answer, now is it? You're supposed to be the smart one!" Saki frowned.

Not for the first time, Stockman started to feel suicidal. "Listen, master, if you don't trust me and the bug, why don't you just track the turtle down in some other way? Like… using a dog?"

Shredder got a puzzled expression. "A what?"

'He's an alien, you cannot expect him to know everything,' Stockman told himself. "A dog. Furry animal with four legs and a tail, good sense of smell…"

"Oh. Where do I get a dog?"

"Well, there is a pet shop on the other side of the street…"

"Right-o! I'm there!" Shredder hurried out of the lab, out of his skyscraper and across the street, only stopping to get his American Express card.

There was no other customer in the pet shop. Saki walked up to the counter, where a woman with black, obviously dyed hair sat and doodled on a piece of paper. She wore a small sign with the text 'Shirley White, Manager'. She looked up when he approached. "Yes, can I help you?"

"Well, madam, I am looking for a dog."

"I see, sir. What kind of dog?"

Shredder scratched his head. "There are different kinds?"

Shirley gave him a funny look. "Yes…"

"Well, I want one that's good for tracking down mutated turtles."

He got an even funnier look. 'Madman,' she thought. 'But wait! Maybe I can take that to my advantage…' she smirked. You see, Shirley wasn't the nicest person. She got kicked out of high school for bullying and stealing the boys' underwear, where after she hoisted them up in the flagpole (the underwear, not the boys). And she couldn't resist fooling this weird guy.

"Why of course, I got the best turtle-tracking dogs in town! If you come with me, please." She pushed Saki before her to a large cage in the far corner of the shop. In there, several black, white, brown and reddish animals scurried around. "There! Just pick one!"

"Hm…" Shredder bent down and picked up one of the animals, a black one with white ears. He looked at it closely. 'Well, it's furry and it's got four legs, so it must be a dog. I cannot see anything that really could count as a tail, but it might have dropped it.'

The animal peered at him with its black eyes. The Shredder melted. "Awe! It's so cute! How much?"

"Only 74 dollars and 62 cents, sir. And for only five dollars more, you get a nice leash too!"

16 minutes later, Shredder left the pet shop, leading his new pet in a pink leash. He went to Stockman's lab straight away.

"Look, Stockman! I got a dog!"

The man in the wheelchair turned around to face his master – and stared. "Eh, master, forgive me for saying this, but I don't really think that that is a dog."

"What do you mean?" Saki asked. "It's furry and it's got four legs, of course it's a dog."

"Yes, but there are other furry, four-legged animals, you know…"

Saki frowned. "Well, if it isn't a dog, then what is it?"

"I think you just got yourself a guinea pig."

The bad guy blinked. "A guinea what?"

"Pig. A guinea pig."

"But… I thought pigs were pink and said 'oink'."

"That's another sort of pig."

"Oh. But wait… that means… that I have been tricked! I asked for a dog, and the woman in the shop gave me a guinea pig! Okay, I'm going back there, and I want a real dog this time!"

His new guinea pig squeaked. Shredder picked it up and cuddled with it. "Don't worry, Prince Albert," he said in that typical voice you use when talking to babies. "I won't get rid of you, though! You will always be daddy's little darling, now won't you?"

Stockman's eyebrows almost disappeared in his hair. For a moment he was speechless. After a while, the only thing he could get out was "Pr… Prince… Albert?"

"Yeah, that's what I've decided to call him. Isn't he sweet?"

"…"

A wide grin spread over Donatello's face. He'd found the harbour! He looked around. "Bland så här många skepp, så bara måste det finnas ett som går till Sverige!" (6) he said to himself. Then he frowned. "Problemet är bara att hitta det…" (7)

Someone once said 'God protects drunks, fools and homosexuals.' Or was it drunks, fools and children? Hm… Anyway, God helped this fool, because Don found the ship without getting into trouble. It was a great passenger ship that also carried stuff such as computers, clothes and toys. It was called 'Mälarens flamma' (8).

'Vilket dumt namn,' (9) Donnie thought. 'Fast det spelar ingen roll. Så länge jag kommer ombord så…' (10)

But he had yet to figure out how to get aboard without a ticket. He leaned his chin against his hand. You could practically see the little wheels spinning in his brain. Suddenly, he brightened and snapped his fingers. "Aha! Jag har en plan!" (11)

I know absolutely nothing about My Little Pony. I had a couple of plastic ponies once, but that must have been 12 or 13 years ago. I don't know if there is a wicked witch or any ponies named Flower and Starlight, but let's pretend that there is, eh? Flower and Starlight just seemed to me as very My Little Pony-ish.

Tell me, do you think that I should let Splinter join Mikey, Leo and Raph in their search for their insane brother, or is it better if he stays at home? I'm not really sure, so it's up to you!

1. Lucky I found this coat.

2. If I hadn't, I probably would've frozen to death. And there were so many of them that the nice reptiles and the rat probably won't miss it. I really hope that they won't get too sad when they discover that I've left. Now, which way leads to the harbour?

3. I guess I have to go up.

4. If I'm careful, there shouldn't be any problems.

5. So, which way's the right one?

6. Among such a large number of ships, there just has to be one that goes to Sweden!

7. The problem is just to find it…

8. Flame of Mälaren. (AN: Mälaren is a great lake. A big part of Stockholm, Sweden's capital, is lying on small islands in Mälaren.)

9. What a stupid name.

10. But it doesn't matter. As long as I get aboard…

11. Ah-ha! I've got a plan!