Chapter 24: Zipp Full of Problems


Just when things were starting to get better, the Turtles and Trainers faced a huge problem. The Zipps had all come together dining on chocolate, only to become the size of the warehouse. "Now we need that fusion of Venusaur and Blastoise that one Gastly made," Brock gulped as the monstrous Zipp lifted the warehouse and started to eat it.

"Doesn't that thing ever get full!?" complained Raphael.

"Unless we can find a way to return him to the small size, we sunk!" pointed out Donatello. That's when Ash recalled something back at the Museum of Natural History.

"There may be a way!" he voiced. Everyone turned to Ash.

"How so, bro?" wondered Michelangelo.

"One of those creatures ate mineral samples when one of them vanished," he remembered. "If we can find that mineral sample, we might have a chance to stop the madness."

"It's possible that the mineral is a countermeasure to its molecular structure," Donatello believed.

"Let's get back to the museum and look into the display cases," Brock spoke.

"It's our only chance to save the city," Leonardo voiced. They left as the Zipp continued to grow from the chocolate it ate. At Lofty Tower, the beam cutting through the Rigidium spire looked to be almost through to the other side.

"In a few minutes, we'll have the Rigidium to repair the Technodrome!" proclaimed Shredder. One problem arose from the accomplishment that Irma pointed out.

"And the tower will collapse!" she added. Pete couldn't get the Turtle Comm from April.

"I have an idea," she voiced to Pete. "The Turtle Comm for your camera." Pete caught on to April's ploy.

"Alright, I hope you know what you're doing," Pete promised. They traded the Turtle Comm and camera.

"Irma, I need you to 'tape' me," April whispered before approaching Bebop.

"I know what she wants to do, but this is risky," Irma gulped before taking the camera and aiming it at April and Bebop.

"Hey, back off!" snapped Bebop. "Dis doesn't concern ya, April!"

"Oh, come on, Bebop!" sweet-talked April. "You're not doing anything right now, so how about an interview?" Bebop started to sense April's ploy.

"I'm not fallin' for a-" There was a pause for Bebop to reconsider. "An interview?"

"I mean, I am a jouralist by trade. Perhaps knowing what one needs all of that Rigidium could help the network's ratings."

"It would?" Then, Bebop snorted. "I guess da viewers at home would want ta know what I have ta offa." While April distracted Bebop, the Turtles and Trainers returned to the museum and the case Ash saw one Zipp vanish from.

"It's this case," he pointed. The case had other minerals with names on there. "I remember that it was this one." Donatello took a closer look at the stand missing its mineral with "RIGIDIUM" above.

"Rigidium?" he read. "That's one of the rarest minerals on Earth!"

"Oh, that's new!" awed Brock. "What's Rigidium?"

"It's rumored to be the sturdiest mineral anywhere," Donatello briefed.

"But if this Rigidium is what effects the creatures at palm size to vanish," Ash pondered. "We're going to need a large amount to satisfy it with how big he is."

"But that's easier said than done to find this Rigidium, dude," Michelangelo pointed out. "Like Donatello said, it's a rare mineral. It's not like you go to the nearest car repair store to put on your car, right?" Brock nodded to Michelangelo's point.

"He's not wrong," he sided. "What place would have a large amount of Rigidium?" That's when Ash's Turtle Comm rang. He retrieved it.

"It's gotta be from April," he assumed. When he activated the Comm, Pete's on the screen. "Pete!?"

"Guys, Shredder's attacking Lofty Tower and we're stuck on the roof of it," Pete briefed. "He's cutting the spire off the tower which connects to the entire building." The news didn't sit well with the heroes.

"He's cutting the spire of Lofty Tower?" repeated Raphael. "Tell me he's not doing it for kicks."

"Not likely," Pete denied. "He seems to be after Rigidium that holds the tower up!" Hearing the mineral made the others realize Shredder's motive.

"So, Shredder sicked that creature onto us so that he could steal the Rigidium in the middle of Lofty Tower's opening while we're distracted!" believed Leonardo.

"Meaning the only explanation has to do with the Technodrome," Donatello pondered.

"Then our objective is to stop Shredder from stealing the tower's spire!" urged Brock. Donatello had another problem to point out.

"What about Monster Creature outside?" he pointed out.

"Easy, let Ash and Michelangelo handle that big guy," Raphael opted. "Even they listened to those two when they were small and many."

"I've worked with big guys before," Ash recalled. "Leave him to me and Michelangelo." They rushed out of the museum, their mission on Lofty Tower.

"GO GREEN MACHINE!" they cheered with the giant Zipp trailing. He snapped his fingers with an idea.

"You want to give me a ride!?" he called up. The Zipp scooped Ash and Pikachu and dropped onto the shoulder. Ash pointed the way. "To Lofty Tower!" The Zipp stomped his way after the Turtles. Back at the Tower, Bebop finished the interview.

"Bebop, quit fooling around!" scolded Shredder. "We're almost ready!" The laser seemed to be done cutting through the spire. It swayed at the damage done. Shredder hoped to get it on the tank and James lined it up.

"Ready to drop!" he announced. Shredder got on his device.

"Krang, open the portal!" he demanded. The portal opened. Rocksteady and Bebop got behind the spire. "Now… push!" The two mutants pushed the spire down onto the tank perfectly. The building shook and everyone tried to remain balanced. "And now to leave with our prize!" He, James and the mutants boarded the tank.

"That's what you think, Chrome Dome!" shouted Raphael. The thieves looked up, finding the Zipp with the Turtles and Trainers.

"Oh no!" yelped Shredder. "The Zipp!" Hearing the name, Ash nodded.

"Zipp, huh?" he repeated before turning to the Zipp. "Let's prop this building!" The Zipp nodded before grabbing a nearby skyscraper and bending it. It had the tower of the skyscraper pin and prop Lofty Tower as April lost her footing and rolled. Her yelp made Pete spring into action.

"April!" he shouted before diving to reach April. He reached over the railing and snagged her hand, stopping her fatal descent. Pete pulled April up over the rail before she hugged him out of fear. Shredder's troupe was on their way through the portal.

"Why not have some munchies, big dude?" offered Michelangelo. The Zipp licked his lips, grabbing the Rigidium spire Shredder cut.

"NO!" he cried. The Zipp ate the spire, munching on the Rigidium.

"Let's bail, now!" ordered Brock. All jumped from the Zipp onto the tower. The Zipp burped before shrinking and falling from the skyscraper's height.

"I gotcha, little dude!" called Michelangelo as he lassoed the shrunken Zipp by the leg before pulling it up.

"So, the Rigidium decreases the Zipp's size or makes them vanish if already at that state," Donatello studied. "Learning about this guy has helped me understand what lies within Dimension X." Hearing treads, Brock turned to see Shredder and his team escaping.

"Looks like Shredder's had enough for now," he pointed out. The Zipp recovered before flying to the tank and through the portal. Ash took a step before stopping.

"Take good care, Zipp!" he called out as the portal closed. Back in the Technodrome, Shredder's party returned with the Zipp following. It flew around the Technodrome while Krang began to freak out.

"Stop that Zipp!" he yelled. Everyone chased and tried to grab the Zipp.

"Get it to the shafts!" urged James.

"Why the shafts, pea-brain!?" snapped Krang.

"The twerps found out how to control it!" spoke James. The Zipp chased the Rocket member to the shafts as Krang and James's teammates watched on. James offered the Rigidium to the Zipp who scarfed the mineral. With a burp, the Zipp vanished.

"Well, what do you know," Krang awed. "The Rigidium held a component that reduces or eliminates the Zipp."

"And it took you this long to realize that?" nagged Jessie. "It still hasn't solved our shafting problems."

"You mean the one you never lifted a finger for!?" shouted Krang. A fight seemed to have started. On the street of Lofty Tower, Donald assessed the damages and praise.

"The Lofty Tower will be getting repairs to help sustain its structure," he believed. "But thanks to these brave youths, the Lofty Tower will stand firm." He turned to the Turtles and Trainers. "Ash, Brock, Raphael, Donatello, Leonardo and Michelangelo… Thank you all for making sure everyone made it back to the streets." He shook Ash's and Brock's hands.

"While no longer the tallest tower in New York City for now," April reported. "The Lofty Tower will stand once more to tower the Empire State Building, but not without the help of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Pokémon Trainers. Who knows what Shredder will unleash the next time, let alone what the half-dozen heroes will use to counter the evil ninja's plans. April O'Neil, Channel 6 News." Pete nodded, signaling that he got the shot. Back at the Lair, Brock was on the phone.

"Are you free Saturday?" he asked.

"I am," Irma confirmed. "I know Pete asked for an extra shift- Wait, are you serious!?" Brock laughed to the sudden question.

"Figured it out, huh? So, what do you say?"

"Are you kidding!? I've been dying for someone to ask me out for a long time, even for Pete to ask!"

"He's alright in my book, especially around Mudkip."

"Brock, I wouldn't have answered someone I fell for… for a date! What time Saturday? And where do you want to go!?"

"I'd imagine 5:30 is best in front of Central Park where I can lay out the plans."

"Don't wait until now, tell me what movie you want to see!?" As Brock started to explain the plans, Ash and the Turtles watched on.

"Brock and Irma on a date," Michelangelo awed. "Could you imagine what you guys would do on your dates?"

"Oh, somewhere to enjoy laughs like a comedy club," Raphael mentioned.

"Let's not become jealous because Brock and Irma have a connection," Donatello eased.

"He's right," Ash sided. "Besides, I'd wait until I cross that bridge or dimension to start."

"I bet Kala's on your mind after she wished you well," Raphael teased.

"A human and a Neutrino together?" wondered Leonardo. "I don't see it."

"That would be the same thing if it was Michelangelo and Misty having a beach side date and surfing a lot," Ash shrugged. The Turtles disagreed, thinking that was too far. Brock and Pikachu laughed to the conversation while the former chose to get ready for his date.


TO BE CONTINUED...