Chapter 24: Annenberg

"So are we totally going to dress up for the festival!?" Mikey questioned excitedly, him and everyone else arrived in Annenberg City in under a few hours thanks to Marol whom Leo and April assisted in helping her free back at Strangler's Hill.

They all had rented out a small motel room to rest up for a single night and talk more about this expert Jenna who particularly knows just about every arrival on this dimension. Leo was upside down with his head hanging off the bottom of a small couch, he was bored, and so was everyone else considering they were pretty much at a dead end, Donnie was sitting next to him with a folded hand to his cheek and elbow resting on the arm of the couch.

"No Mikey, we've already wasted enough time as is. For all we know, Xen could be dead, and we're having a hard time finding them, having to go from one person to the next." Leo remarked unamusingly, "Actually, this might be our last. Jenna is really excellent with this, and the Elder said she was his friend, so he most likely knows that she knows." Arna stated, she and April were sitting on the one bed in the room.

"Let's hope so, our experience here so far has been… strange." Donnie stated slightly confusingly, Mikey was disappointed, like always he wanted to have fun and to goof around, and this all time festival that went on here in Annenberg had perked his attention and he really seemed to want to go and take part.

"The elder hardly gave us any description, just the festival as a lead, and this festival is huge, so is this city, it could take us ages before we find her…" Donnie remarked worriedly with a small annoyed sigh.

Arna noticed something off about Leo, he seemed sterned as if he was focusing on something else aside from the subject at hand that was being talked a'loud, "Something bothering you, Leo?" Arna questioned him confusingly.

"Wha?" Leo remarked when he heard Arna mention his name, snapping out of deep thought, "Is something bothering you, cause it seems like it." Arna stated once again.

It took Leo a good few seconds to say anything, he was unsure himself, only most of them knew how well that brain of his worked when it came to ahead plans, so this did make them all curious. Leo let out a small sigh, "April, remember what the Elder said about Jenna?" Leo questioned her.

April slightly raised an eye at him, wondering why he was getting back at that, "Well yeah, she's a friend of his, she's in annenberg and is a researcher on new arrivals including Den Na' Vors, and the festival."

"Exactly." Leo stated as he crossed his arms, April immediately came to realization and gasped slightly, everyone else was dumbfounded as they all looked at the two confusingly. "The elder never mentioned if he did or didn't know her exact location." Leo remarked as he started.

"He turned his back at us and wouldn't say anything more, he wants us to waste our time." April added, the reason why, they didn't know. The elder was already a very mysterious person when they first met him for that short time, even Jogo was keeping her distance from him a bit.

April was somewhat disappointed she didn't think of it sooner, Leo was on it like a hawk shortly after. She already came to the conclusion of what he was thinking now, and there were possibly two outcomes, Marwin was either buying time or trying to buy us all time to keep us away from danger or worse. But he could've also done it because he either felt like it, or wanted to give us a challenge, or it could be something entirely else.

Jogo let out a small meow that interrupted the silence that filled the room, "Well, whether the issue or not, we still need to find Jenna." Arna stated as she stood up off the bed with a small stretch, "Come on Mikey, let's go to the festival." She added happily as she grabbed her bag off the bed also.

"Aww yeahh!" Mikey shouted happily, Casey was practically passed out on the floor, slightly snoring away. Raph seemed to not entirely be interested in the situation as he was also bored himself and Arna clearly noticed this from him as well, "Raph you're coming too." Arna added with a small smirk.

Raph for once didn't argue, he too honestly wanted to check out the festival and get to finding this Jenna person asap, so he said nothing and only stood up from the floor. April was giving Leo a nasty glare, and he already noticed this, Donnie clearly could tell he only seemed to listen to April most the time, and she clearly was telling him to stay put and rest.

"Any of you else coming?" Arna questioned as she looked at the rest of them who didn't move, "I'm going to stay here, I gotta keep someone in check." April remarked with a small innocent wave and smile at Arna, Donnie also waved them off as he wanted to stay put himself, he wasn't entirely interested in the fact of a festival due to the amount of people in them.

Hardly moving from his position, let alone spot, Leo only gave a small subtle sigh. April honestly reminded him of Splinter in her own unique ways, so in a small way, he also looked up to her. She tended to also get through with the others just as well as she does with Leo, so they all tend to look up to her in their own ways. Leo wasn't going to argue with her, let alone be negative about the fact she wanted him to take it easy, and she was honestly correct due to the fact that whatever Marol did to him had faded off and the pain was returning.

"Starting to wonder if we should've gone with them to keep them in check…" Donnie questioned somewhat worried but also frightened from the fact of the amount of people in this large city, let alone a festival. "They can handle themselves, even if those two cant, Arna will keep them in the mindset." Leo remarked unamusingly as he sat up into a sitting position, Jogo leaped down and rested onto his lap from the top of the couch.

"And if she can't?" Donnie added seriously as he glanced at Leo, Leo didn't respond, despite Mikey always pulling pranks on Raph and pissing him off, they surprisingly were a good two team and even if Arna couldn't, it would mostly be Raph who would keep Mikey in the mindset with his impulsive attitude.

"Alright, so! We can go around, play a few festival games, but remember we're also looking for information on Jenna and trying to find her." Arna remarked as she pulled out a small map of Annenberg, Arna only knew a bit about the directions and locations of this place, she's only been here once, with the old friend of hers that passed long ago.

They were close to the festival, unlike the certain steampunk city Beving all the way far up south across the ocean that had a festival going just about every inch of the city for years on end to this day as well, though Beving was a dangerous city.

Arna glanced up after staring at the map and thinking about the festival, she immediately became frantic when she noticed Mikey had already disappeared and they were already in a pickle.

Looking at Raph who seemed to have no interest at all in the festival despite being bored back at the motel, Arna gave a small annoyed growl at him, "You could at least watch Mikey." "I am." Raph remarked sternly as he pointed at a gamestand not too off from where the two stood in the street.

Mikey was at that gamestand playing the current game that he first laid his eyes on when he noticed all the festival activities and decorations in the street across from them, and the fact of the dozens of people walking down the streets having their own good time.

Arna and Raph walked up to Mikey as he took his turn at the game while a few people stood around to watch along with them, it was a shooter type of game with magical toy guns, this dimension was full of magic, even objects were made with magic and most tools and supplies needed some sort of magic source in order to operate, so in this case, these toy guns had a cord connected to them that supplied them with magical energy. Unlike Leo's Lynblade, magic didn't cost a person's energy, special tools were made for that as certain materials were supplied with their own magic such as magic stones.

Though despite these magical stones, Leo's Lynblade was far far more powerful than any magical weapon or tool, even creature, that blade could even slice through the strongest scales of a dragon like butter, Arna glanced at the shells and plastron on the turtles, it was also like armor for them that protected their internal organs and most bones, even that sword could easily slice and break through them and it honestly worried her if an enemy ever got their hands on the weapon, it was extremely dangerous, it didn't just drain the wielders life away but it also produced overwhelming powerful lightning around the blade.

Arna for sure knew, that the discovery of the LynBlade that Leo came across wasn't going to be the first, there were still many weapons out there that were similar or exactly like the blade, though extremely rare.

Arna snapped out of thought when everyone began to cheer, Mikey scored a high score of shooting, he had to shoot a stack of bottles without knocking over other bottles, and he did it perfectly. She then came to realization with what she was just overthinking about and it made her realize… She took a liking to these turtles and the two humans.

She didn't feel insecure for once, she has been alone for a very long time, stuck here in this world, though she preferred it as earth was less fun. Despite that, this world was a large-scale survival op, you wouldn't know if the person next to you is evil or good, would attack or not, it was a hunt or be hunted world most of the time.

"Mikey, you're pretty amazing at games aren't you." Arna questioned him somewhat amazed, but also to give him the well needed attention and affection that she didn't mind giving. Mikey waved the tender of the game off with a small stuffed animal wolf in his arms as a reward and directed his happy attention at Arna, "You bet! Though... Leo usually has the highest scores, he would've done way better at that than I would have." Mikey remarked somewhat sadly.

He seemed somewhat disappointed that Leo and the others didn't come along, Leo was injured and didn't really have a choice, especially with April barking up a tree at him to rest.

"Aww Mikey, I'm sure once this is all over we can all go out together and have some fun." Arna said, attempting to cheer him up as they all walked down the street. Mikey was quick to accept the situation as he instantly became distracted with another game and ran towards it, Arna only let out a small smile, she honestly was somewhat jealous at how easily Mikey can get over something.

Raph was breathing down people's necks, he was already walking around asking people sternly about Jenna and if they knew anything, most the time scaring people off with his negative impulsive attitude which only made Arna unamused, not bothering to even stop him.

Clearly Raph wanted to find Jenna already and get this mess over with, he still seemed bothered by the fact he can't age anymore due to this dimension's atmosphere for other worldly arrivals, the others seemed to have accepted this fact though they will get tired of it eventually, seems to always tend to turn out that way after years and years go by seeing allies and close people to you move on and/or pass away.

Arna only slightly rolled her eyes somewhat annoyed by how Raph was acting towards the people, "You know maybe you shouldn't-" Arna began as Raph was approaching, only to be interrupted by him.

"I have a lead." Raph said sternly with his arms crossed, Arna instantly tilted slightly in slight astonishment, well, impulsive attitude was also a good way to get information out of people.

"Wait till Leo hears about this." Raph growled happily that he successfully managed to get information for once, Arna waved at Mikey to come on back after he finished another game and he quickly did, she then directed her attention back at Raph with a slightly confused expression on her face and this confused him immediately, "What?" Raph questioned her.

"What's with you guys and Leo? I get he's your leader and all… but… you seem to look up to him a little too much." Arna questioned confusingly, Mikey was munching on a bag of chips he won at one of the other gamestands, "He's... our older.. brother." Mikey remarked with his mouth full of chips.

Raph eased up his attitude and looked down slightly, he hated to admit it but he did look up towards Leo all the time even since they were kids, "He's also far too protective and sacrificial." Mikey added after swallowing his chips, "Sacrificial?" Arna questioned as she was looking at Mikey considering he was the one answering.

"He continues to take and jump in alot of fights in order to protect us, so he's always getting injured, he's been like this even since we were little kids, we've tried making him stop but he wont. It's like a family instinct of his, his body just moves on its own to protect his family at all costs." Raph explained hesitantly, "That's why we call him fearless Leader, he ain't afraid of death, but we are for him." Mikey remarked, tossing another chip into his mouth and crunching it loudly with a smile.

"Without him, we're an insufficient team, though without us, he can't always pull everything off on his own. " Raph added, he then remembered what April mentioned back in Leeri when he was upset and blamed her for the caused injuries on Leo, he thought of her as a weak pathetic girl that Leo still proceeded to protect despite this, though he thought wrong when he noticed more from her since they arrived here, especially the way she managed to talk through with everyone, including himself.

Raph was somewhat Jealous of April, She was almost like a mother to them when it came to their safety or anything regarding injuries, it wasn't just Leo she tended to get upset with when he avoided and endured his injuries, but everyone else when they were negative towards something.

Raph let out a large growl, instantly becoming annoyed with the thoughts that overflowed his mind, especially memories, "I swear, one day ill beat his ass!" Raph growled angrily, Mikey let out a small chuckle at his statement because he could never beat Leo in any form of combat, though he did come close one time.

Donnie was passed out on the side of the couch, slightly snoring away along with Casey who still was on the floor, April was reading a book she came across randomly lying around in the Motel room which she seemed to slowly become intrigued with.

Leo let out a small sneeze as he was trying to sleep but apparently couldn't again, this spooked Jogo who was resting away on his lap still, he immediately grasped his side painfully as the sneeze did cause a jolt of pain instantly and let out a small painful whimper.

Raising an eye, April noticed Leo had an unpleasant look on his face though it was also showing pain, "You ok?" April questioned him worriedly as she slowly lowered the book onto her stomach, considering she was laying back on the bed.

Leo let out a small annoyed growl, "Why do I get the feeling I'm being talked about…" Jogo rested herself again as she curled up and began to purr slightly, Leo leaned back and slightly slumped down somewhat boredly and rested a hand on Jogo, petting her gently.

"Raphs probably talking crap about you again." April remarked as she continued to read her book knowing he wouldn't respond as she was most likely correct.

"April." Leo said somewhat sternly, April glanced over at him with a confused but also worried look on her face, though it became more confused when she noticed the gentle look he was giving her.

"Thank you." He added with a small innocent smile, this confused her immediately and she didn't know why he was thanking her, so she didn't hesitate to ask.

"Why are you thanking me?" April questioned him, she couldn't think of why, there wasn't really anything to be thanking her for.

Leo rested his hand on his cheek and closed his eyes as he looked down, "If not for you, I probably wouldn't be in the right mindset of my own, let alone be here."

April realized he clearly was thinking about the past incidents, though he wasn't wrong as she now remembered back in Leeri, she snapped him out of his building depression hole from the loss of Splinter, and their home.

Letting out a small sigh, Leo had an added somewhat sad look, "Though it is our fault you got into this mess with us." Leo added, clearly blaming himself.

This immediately made April furious, she threw the book to the side of the bed and sliding off she marched her way towards him. Leo directed his attention at her when he heard her move and stand and followed her with his eyes as she angrily marched over, this somewhat frightened him, immediately knowing he ticked her off.

Slowly removing his hand from his cheek and giving a somewhat worried and frightened look, April grabbed his finger and twisted it slightly, only enough to somewhat hurt him.

This immediately also frightened Jogo as she shot her head up and noticing the situation at hand, he leapt down and off Leo's lap hesitantly. Leo yelped slightly from the sudden action April pulled, he was about to instantly give her an unpleasant look like 'what the hell was that for' but only to immediately be stopped as she quickly hugged him afterward.

He clearly blamed himself for the loss of her family, Jenna, Kana, Adam. He knew she could've easily just ignored it all after the incident with Jenna and had a normal life with her family and the others most likely still alive.

If it wasn't for Mikey and him with the duplicate statue with the real blueprint to the teleporter, then she wouldn't have gotten further into the mess, he also could've easily just left her to live a normal life and stay out of all of it.

Leo seemed to forget that April was full of surprises, she seemed to always have a comeback for everything as well when it came to words and talking, and Leo clearly was on a losing streak on this part.

Leo didn't know how to react anymore with all these sudden hugs that she tended to keep resulting too when down, though he knew she liked doing it because it was the best possible way to provide comfort and ease someone's pain.

April also knew it seemed to always work best with Leo considering it spooked him everytime she resulted to it, April wasn't crying this time despite her being somewhat of a crybaby, she still was somewhat furious at him and wouldn't release her hug on him.

Leo rested a hand on her back and relaxed sadly, he knew what he said had pissed her off. "Sorry…" he remarked weakly, somewhat regretting what he said.

"No, I should be thanking you." April began sternly herself, thanks to him, she was remembering the past again even though she accepted it and the loss of close family and friends, she didn't blame him, he clearly cared for her and didn't want her in this mess because of how bad it was and dangerous.

"Leo, I have no regrets towards following Mikey's little chip trail and meeting you and your brothers, I don't care what it resulted in or the cost of what had already happened, the past is the past and I've accepted it, but can you?" April said, tears started to form in her eyes with all that was coming to mind.

"Because...right now… all I have left, is you guys." April added weakly as she sobbed lightly, not knowing if Xen was alive or dead scared her, anyone who would risk their life and aid her, she considered and had a large soft spot for deeply.

And right now as well, Leo's injuries also scared and worried her, he's helped and saved her so many times now that she has lost count and he still continues to be overly protective and of course sacrificial.

"Aww, you two are so cute." Donnie stated with a smirk on his face, he woke up and the two didn't even notice or realize it until he said something, April still didn't release her grip on Leo, she gave Donnie an ugly look though and it frightened him slightly, she immediately reached her arm out and grabbed Donnie by the scarf, pulling him into a hug as well.

"That includes you too ." April remarked somewhat sternly, Donnie was slightly blushing and didn't know how to react himself either, Leo gave him a small smirk in return, telling him, 'Welcome to what I deal with.'

"Mikey, i'll pound you first!" Raph growled pounding his fists together as a threatening remark because of the chuckle he resulted towards about Leo, knowing he would whoop his ass.

"Alright, enough, what's this lead you have for Jenna?" Arna questioned sternly at Raph as she slightly raised an eye, showing she wasn't pleased at all or interested in his attitude.

Raph glanced at Arna then back at Mikey and crossed his arms angrily, "Something about a library downtown."

Arna immediately had a realization on her face that confused the two brothers, "Duhh! I totally forgot the one other thing about her, she's a major bookworm."

After a short while of walking through the streets towards downtown, Raph having to pull Mikey away from his attempts at doing more games, they had finally arrived and stood directly in front of the library. For once Raph was somewhat amazed, "This place… is huge.."

Arna smirked slightly, "It's only one of the most famous libraries in the world." "Only one? What's it ranked at?" Mikey questioned, munching on some more chips he still had.

"Rank five, the number one spot goes to the library in cybercity, it's like being inside a literal mountain full of books." Arna said, she's never been to it, cybercity was very very far off from where they currently were in the world, like she stated before, this world was far more larger than earth itself.

"Who knows, maybe we'll end up there someday." Arna remarked with an unpleasant huff, cybercity, despite its popularity, it was also dangerous like Beving steampunk city.

Any large city was pretty much very dangerous, and Arna was never pleased with it as she encountered and witnessed many issues and problems in only some of the larger cities she's gone to with her old friend, so she chose to stick the smaller towns and villages and build herself a little home that she had to currently leave in order to help the turtles and two humans.

Mikey shook his bag of chips and gave a small sad sigh, "Aww…" he was all out now as he had munched away the entire walk. "No food allowed anyway Mikey." Arna remarked as she proceeded towards the doors, Raph followed directly behind as Mikey tossed his bag away and quickly caught up.

Once again, both Mikey and Raph were amazed at how fancy the interior looked, it was like the inside of a rich person's castle. Arna had her upper finger placed under her chin as she was thinking while Mikey and Raph browsed the interior with their eyes in astonishment.

She had a small brief description on what Jenna looked like based on rumors she had accidentally overheard at one point as she tried to remember, Arna removed her hand from her chin and perked her head and ears as she glanced around the library, she forgot how huge this place was not just from the outside, but it was also like a maze on the inside.

Mikey and Raph ended up in a hallway that was lined fully with books on each side, Mikey randomly grabbed and pulled a book out from a shelf and opened it, a small magical monster popped out from the page and roared in Mikeys face, he immediately slammed the book closed and dropped it as he jumped back frighteningly half to death with a large yelp.

Raph opened one randomly as well as he tilted the book, it had strange writing on the pages, most likely magical lettering and writing that he didn't understand at all. "Man, Donnie would love to be here." Raph remarked as he put the book back.

"If he knew we were coming to a castle like library, he probably would've had second thoughts on coming." Arna remarked as she had walked over, "I know where Jenna is." she added with a smile, she had asked and checked with a clerk while the two brothers had strange experiences already here.