Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT characters. This is a story I wrote for fun, inspired by the Rise of the TMNT: The Movie.

Summary: Now that the world is saved from the Kraang invasion, the turtles face another foe: Agent John Bishop. For over a year, the Turtles, other mutants, and Yokai find themselves in a cat-and-mouse game with Bishop and his agents. But things get worse when Bishop and his team are accidentally involved with opening the gate to the Prison Dimension.

Author's Note: This story takes place a year and three months after the events of the ROFTTMNT: the Movie. Please enjoy, and I look forward to hearing your reviews.

Rises to the Next Level

Chapter 1: The Chase Is On

New York is a beautiful city, even when it is snowing. January is often and usually quieter after the Holiday season, but New York does manage to stay alive.

It is a city of excitement and mystery and is only complete with an exciting car chase in the streets.

The Turtle Tank turns the corner and zig zags around the other moving vehicles. Close in pursuit, a black van also comes around the same corner and follows the Tank around the cars.

On the side of the van is a logo printed in gold—an eagle with wings spread out carrying a triangle with the planet earth inside. Circling over the eagle says Earth Protection Force, while the bottom of the logo says E.P.F.

Since the Kraang invasion a year and a half ago, the city streets have seen more and more of these vans driving around.

Michelangelo frantically looks up from the radar screen and turns to his brother.

"Faster, Donnie. They're catching up." The young turtle shouts.

"How do they keep finding us?" Donatello complains. He turns the driving steering wheel sharply to the right.

Micky leans, desperate not to fall over, as the Tank makes it to another corner.

"Oh, I don't know; maybe it's because we drive a vehicle that practically announces our presence!" Michael cries out.

"Hang on, I'll try to lose them through Queens," Donnie says quickly as he makes another sharp turn on the steering wheel.

"Do you think we should call for backup?" Mickey asks, lifting his phone.

"Not yet, little bro; let's see if I can lose them first." The purple-clad turtle says.

Donatello flips a few switches and turns another corner. This nearly succeeds in throwing Michelangelo out of his seat. The little turtle's fast reflexes keep him from flying off, however.

"When I say 'now,' punch that button over there!" He orders.

"Will do," Mickey nods. He positions his finger over the big red button in front of him.

The Turtle Tank leads the agents down a sketchy section and zig-zags down the street. A few blocks go by when they finally reach an area of abandoned buildings.

"Now, Mickey!" Donnie demands.

"Slam-o-3000," without hesitation, Michelangelo slams the button.

The Turtle Tank sprays a sticky substance which causes the black van to slip and spin until the ooze becomes web-like – making the van stuck, hanging like a fly waiting to be a meal for the spider. Two agents poke their heads out the windows to inspect their predicament.

Donatello and Michelangelo cheer and high-five each other as they speed off.

OoOoOoOoOo

The Turtle Tank drives into the garage and comes to a complete stop. The big door opens, and Donnie and Mickey walk down the ramp. Each of them is carrying three large pizza boxes.

"Dinner is now served!" Michelangelo announces as they enter the next room.

Splinter looks over from his favourite reclining chair. Leo lifted his head from the Jupiter Jim comic book. Raphael and Casey turned away from the television, relieved to see Michelangelo and Donatello home.

"Finally," Leonardo says, setting down his comic and walking towards his brothers. "What took you guys so long?"

The second Michelangelo and Donatello place the boxes down on the table, everyone dives in to grab a slice of pizza.

"We had to lose one of those agent vans again." Donnie sighs in a monotone voice.

"What, are you guys okay?" Raphael jumps up in concern.

"We're fine," Mickey sings, waving his hands to one side as if it was no big deal. "We made it home in one piece, didn't we."

The orange-clad turtle grabs a slice of pizza and sits between Leonardo and Casey.

"Indeed, I got to use my web trap, which worked successfully finally, I may add. All thanks to Big Mama's web goo." Donatello proudly chimes.

"Nice work, Donnie." Leo smiles approvingly.

"Leo," Raph scolds the new leader. "These agents are getting more dangerous every time we encounter them. What will we do if any or all of us are captured?"

Raphael slams his heavy fist down on the table for emphasis, making everyone jump.

"Raph, I know you are concerned by this, but please don't take it out on the table, all right?" Leo says to attempt to calm his bigger brother down.

"Stop joking around, Leo. You need to take this seriously." The red-clad turtle growls – accusing his brother of being his former brash self.

Taking offence to that remark, Leonardo sits up.

"I am," he argues, "I'm just saying, don't destroy the furniture to make your point."

"Boys," Splinter interjects. "No fighting each other, you hear me? Now, Raphael may have a point. I recommend we be more cautious when we are above ground from now on."

"Yeah, I know," Leonardo reluctantly agrees. "Like last week, Casey, Donnie, and I witnessed the agents raiding the Run of the Mill restaurant. They dragged Senor Hueso, his brother, Piel, and the other yokai into their van before other agents showed up and ransacked the restaurant."

"Not cool, not cool at all." Mickey shakes his head in disappointment.

"There are reports that they caught Meat Sweats and Ghostbear the other day." Raph jumps in.

"But that should be okay; they are bad guys, right?" Leo asks before taking another bite of his slice.

"That's not the point, Leo; these agents are bad news for all of us, yokai and mutants alike." Raphael points out.

After thinking about it for a moment, the blue-masked turtle nods in agreement to his older brother.

"So, what do we do?" Casey asks.

"Right now, there isn't anything we can do," Splinter sighs. "Perhaps we should keep a low profile until we can learn more about them."

"You mean, other being known as the Earth Protection Force?" Donatello comments.

"Yes," the rat sensei says simply while munching on his slice.

"How's April?" Leonardo asks, feeling a change of subject is necessary. "You were able to check up on her before getting the pies, right?"

"Yeah. She's stressing over an exam tomorrow, but besides that, she's good." The purple-clad turtle responds after swallowing a bit of his pizza.

"I'm glad she can focus on her school again now that the city is back to normal." Raph smiles.

"Well, except for the constant patrols of the E.P.F.," Donatello grumbles.

"April is lucky to experience school," Casey says almost regretfully. "I just know how to fight, survive and hide."

"I agree," Donnie nods, "The experiencing school part." He finishes, clarifying what he agrees with.

Casey takes a moment and smiles at each young turtle and Splinter. He still misses everyone he lost in the alternate future timeline, especially his sensei, but seeing everyone alive and well brings him greater peace than ever. Even if everyone he knows is much younger than he's used to.

"Again, thank you, guys, for letting me stay with you." The teen boy finally says.

"No sweat, Cas. You are family, after all." Leonardo responds quickly without a second thought.

"Blue is right," Splinter agrees as he takes another slice. "Based on what you told us about your timeline, I would say for certain you are officially a part of the Hamato clan."

"Thank you, Sensei," Casey bows forward respectfully to the rat man. He feels good knowing that he has a home with them.

Off to the side, a purple portal with jagged edges forms. No one in the room is stunned since they already know who it is. The portal grows large enough for Baron Draxum to step through. In an over-shoulder bag, he carries herbs and potions he purchased from the Hidden City.

"I'm back." He announces.

The response he gets is a mouthful of 'mhm' from the rest of the boys at the table. Draxum glances over and frowns.

"Pizza, again?" The yokai alchemist groans.

"Awe, come on, Draxum. Pizza is the best." Casey expresses honestly.

"You need to get out more, kid," Draxum grumbles.

"Come grab a slice before Raph eats up the last piece." Michelangelo insists.

"Fine," Draxum reluctantly sighs.

The Sheepman sits with the boys, grabs a slice of pizza, and begins to eat it.

OoOoOoOoOo

Meanwhile…

Across town, hidden underneath an abandoned gas station, is the Earth Protection Force's secret headquarters.

A slender man dressed in a black suit and dark sunglasses walks down a long corridor. On either side are cells with one glass wall showing each prisoner inside the enclosed space. Agent John Bishop is a no-nonsense, dedicated man to the secret government agency. He is determined to protect the earth from all alien invasions.

Currently, Bishop is taking care of another problem New York has been having for the past few years. According to the reports he has been given, the streets are being terrorized by mutants and yokai. He feels proud of capturing a number of the terrorists reported to him.

The first cell Bishop passes Senor Hueso sitting pouting on his cot. In the next cell, his brother Piel is lying down, staring at the ceiling. Another cell held Sunita and her grandfather, Exploding Frankie.

In a shocking twist, another cell housed Big Momma herself. She had spun a web in her surrounding to make herself more comfortable regardless of her situation.

The other side is mostly the captured mutants like Ghostbear and Meat Sweats, the recent captures. Repo Mantis sits nervously, cramped with his mutated green MantiCat, Mrs. Nubbins. She is constantly staring down her owner with hungry murderous red eyes.

Beside Repo's cell are Hypno and his best friend/roommate, Warren Stone. Of course, neither of them is happy to be in prison, but at least they are in prison together.

In the next cell, Todd is standing in the center, surrounded by his yipping puppies.

The mutant capybara was arrested two weeks prior. However, he has made a decent home out of his six-by-four-foot space. The mystery is how he got flowers and wallpaper in there, but his space is brighter than any other room. Somehow, he managed to talk his way into keeping a few puppies in the room.

Todd frantically waves at Bishop as he walks by.

"Hey there, Mr. Bishop, sir." The blond capybara says in a passive-aggressive tone. "I hate to be a complaining ninny, but my puppies need a fresh bowl of water. I'm sure you and your staff have been busy capturing other yokai and mutants that you must have forgotten. If you have a moment, could you call someone to help care for my little furry friends? That would be so grateful."

He picks up one of the puppies and holds the little fella up to the glass, hoping to get the agent's attention and sympathy.

A tinkling sound from one corner of his cell has Todd's ear flicker.

"Also, if you could, some fresh newspapers would be a huge help." He concludes with a chuckle. "It's starting to get a little whiffy in here if you know what I mean."

Bishop sneers as the smell creeps out in the hallway. With a groan, the man pulls up his cell phone.

"Could someone please go take care of cell #8232?" Bishop orders. "We have a puppy situation that needs attendance."

The man disconnects the call and continues down the hall without another word.

"Much appreciated, thanks." Todd cheers while waving at the agent.

Agent Bishop turns the corner and reaches the massive, locked door at the end of the corridor. He uses a unique fob, an eye scan and voice recognition to open the door.

"Agent #10162004," He speaks to the voice panel.

The door slides open, exposing a large bright room. The agent walks into a lab with scientists and other agents working and studying the organic tech from alien Kraang. Some are taking apart the helicopter, and a few are attempting to dissect the mutated subway car. There are even parts of the Technodrome piled up in one corner.

In the middle of the Lab is a class case, and inside is a live specimen of the female Kraang. She was retrieved from a wrecked construction site a few blocks from the red zone of the attack.

With her only eye, Kraang Two glances up at the man. She is a bit groggy but manages a wide grin.

"Well, look who's come to visit," the female Kraang says tauntingly. "You have more questions for me today?"

"Just one," Agent Bishop responded in a monotone voice. "Yesterday, you mentioned a key. Where can I find it?"