Chapter 30: B-Ray-very!

The Turtles still trembled from the effects of the Anxietron Ray. "This… is all… in our… heads, guys," Leonardo muttered, shaky from the effects.

"Those… little dudes… can't do it… alone," Michelangelo agreed.

"This fear… it's all… in our heads…" stammered Leonardo. "What are we? Turtles? Or mice?"

"Show me a piece of cheese and I'll let you know," Raphael offered.

"We… have to… help them," Donatello urged through his panicked body.

"Right," Leonardo agreed. "Let's go…" The Turtles crawled on their hands and knees out of the Lair. In the Technodrome, James and Meowth finished assembling a contraption for Krang and Shredder while Jessie stayed hidden in fear.

"By your logic, this will reverse the effects of the Anxietron Ray," James addressed.

"It contains… a bombardment of… neutrons from… the generator… downstairs will… counteract… the Ray's effects!" shivered Krang.

"Den, we should be ready to go," Meowth acknowledged.

"I don't feet… too confident… about it," Shredder gulped.

"We won't know until we use it," James urged.

"That's true," Krang shuttered before turning to Shredder. "You go first."

"No, you go," Shredder declined.

"No, you."

"No… You." Seeing as Shredder or Krang won't move, James had an idea.

"Very well…" he mulled. "I'll flip to see who goes first. If it's heads, Shredder goes. Tails, Krang will go."

"I don't like… the process," Krang gulped. Meanwhile, Bebop and Rocksteady were wandering the city with Gorgonzola running amok and Pete trapped inside.

"Boy, what do we do now?" a bored Bebop wondered. Ash, Zach and Pikachu followed.

"We need to get the Anxietron Ray from Bebop and Rocksteady," Zach wanted.

"But if we move and miss," Ash warned. "Say goodbye to our bravery."

"Then stand aside as I make a move," Splinter spoke. Ash, Zach and Pikachu looked to see Brock and Splinter.

"I thought you were at the labs," Ash whispered.

"We wanted to contact you, but we didn't want to jeopardize your hiding spot," Brock cautioned. "But the doctor locked us out and we had to rely on April's information. She's probably going to check on the Turtles." Splinter made his move to grab for the Anxietron Ray. He grabbed the Ray, but Rocksteady turned and caught Splinter.

"Well well, what have we here?" he taunted as he held Splinter up.

"It's da Toitles' giant rat!" realized Bebop. Splinter struggled to free himself.

"Let him go!" demanded Brock as he charged in.

"How about ya be afraid," Rocksteady decided as he used the Anxietron Ray on Brock. He dodged it and retreated.

"Don't worry about him when we can use dis on da rat," Bebop suggested.

"No, I got a better idea!" rejected Rocksteady. "Let's tie him up on da train tracks!"

"Please, dat's da oldest trick in da book."

"Yeah… but it's so dramatic!" They took Splinter away while the others watched.

"I had a funny feeling that would happen," Ash mulled.

"I gotta contact the Turtles!" urged Zach. "I know they can help out at this point, effects or no effects!" He got on his Turtle Comm. "Turtles, we need your help! Master Splinter was taken by Bebop and Rocksteady!"

"D-Don't wo-worry, Z-Zach!" stuttered Leonardo. "We-We're on our way!" Just then, the Channel 6 van arrived.

"Guys!" called out April. The boys seemed surprised.

"Miss O'Neil!" replied Zach.

"Did you guys see Pete?" questioned April.

"No, he wasn't at the filming," Ash denied.

"But I saw his sedan still there!" pointed April. "I'm afraid something happened to him!" To Zach, there may have been a place.

"You don't think Pete's in the Gorgonzola robot," he guessed. "Could he?" April gasped to the thought.

"Oh no…" she believed.

"What's the plan?" asked Brock.

"We need someone to get Master Splinter away from Bebop and Rocksteady and the other save Pete from inside Gorgonzola," Ash started.

"Rescuing Splinter is more important, especially to the Turtles," April suggested.

"Okay, Miss O'Neil!" Zach spoke up. "You try to contact the Turtles while we rescue Master Splinter!"

"Are you sure?" wondered Ash. "They may still be under the effect of the Ray."

"But we don't have a choice," Zach argued. "We can deal with Bebop and Rocksteady and get the Anxietron Ray from them!" Ash gritted, but felt there was little option.

"I trust you on this," he surrendered. "April, take care of the Turtles."

"Will do," April agreed before driving off. The boys chased Bebop and Rocksteady to save Splinter. Rocksteady tied Splinter to some tracks.

"Now to find a train!" urged Bebop. With them looking away from Splinter, the boys reached the mutant rat.

"Let's get you out of there, Master Splinter!" urged Zach.

"No, leave me like this," Splinter opposed.

"But Master!" irked Ash.

"Give the mutants a false sense of security," Splinter ordered. "This can offer you a chance to take the Anxietron Ray from them." A quick thought came over Ash.

"Brock, tend to Master Splinter," he ordered.

"But Ash!" reacted Brock.

"Zach and I have this while you 'tend' to Master Splinter," he emphasized before he, Zach and Pikachu dashed away.

"I have a funny feeling about his plan," Splinter gulped.

"He's done a lot of those," Brock muttered. Back in the Technodrome, Krang and Shredder were zapped with a beam that rained from above. Quickly, Krang was able to smile.

"That feels much better," he sighed.

"Indeed," Shredder relieved. "James, I'm glad that you help out."

"Now, we need Jessie ta get dis beaming shower," Meowth muttered.

"And in the meantime, I have two zipperheads to punish," Shredder promised. Back at the railroad, Bebop and Rocksteady spotted a train.

"All we's got ta do is start it up and let it rip!" urged Rocksteady. Ash and Zach waited until Rocksteady was at the stick when he looked at where Brock and Splinter were. In a quick move, Zach swiped the Ray from Rocksteady's hip and retreated. They hopped off the train where Ash gave Brock a thumb up.

"They got the Ray!" he smiled.

"We must continue the act," Splinter advised. The train started.

"Don't forget ta fix da brake!" urged Rocksteady. Bebop snapped the brake handle. "Now all we's gotta do is…" That's when he felt only his hip where the Ray was, gasping to the theft. "Da gizmo!" Bebop and Rocksteady leaped out of the moving train before Zach waived the Ray with Ash and Pikachu nearby.

"Dem kids got it!" snorted Bebop. They chased the younger set up a hill as Brock removed the rope with his kunai, freeing Splinter from the tracks. The mutants fired at the trainer, teen and Pokémon with their lasers.

"Get going, Zach!" urged Ash as he brought out the tonfas. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Pikachu unleashed Thunderbolt which tagged both Bebop and Rocksteady. "Now, tag team Quick Attack!"

("That's a first!") squeaked Pikachu before he and Ash dashed at Bebop and Rocksteady. They smashed into the mutants before they rolled down the hill back to the bottom. Zach tried to race up the hill before loose rocks slipped out from under his feet. Ash heard a yelp before turning.

"Zach!" he yelped. As Zach was falling, a Turtle line emerged. Michelangelo swung over and caught Zach.

"Gotcha, dude!" he yelped. Ash and Pikachu pumped fists in celebration.

"Oh yeah!" he cheered.

"Michelangelo!" called Zach before he and Michelangelo landed in a tree. "You had the courage to swing all the way up here?" Looking down, Michelangelo's concerns rose up.

"Yeah, but I don't think I have the courage to swing down!" he gulped. Bebop and Rocksteady started to recover as Ash and Pikachu returned to Michelangelo and Zach.

"Let's get back with the rest!" urged Ash.

"Roger, bro!" gulped Michelangelo before taking Zach and swung down. They regrouped with the other Turtles, Brock and Splinter.

"Young Ash, there are times I underestimate your wisdom," Splinter praised. "And Zach, your courage should not be questioned."

"Well, Pokémon Training does help," Ash shrugged. Zach turned the dial on the Ray.

"Let's see if this works," Zach hoped. The Turtles huddled together.

"But, like… what if it doesn't?" gulped Michelangelo. Zach aimed and fired the Ray at the Turtles.

"We'll know in a moment!" shuttered Donatello. Bebop and Rocksteady recovered and return to pursue. They reached the top of the hill to find Ash cowering on the ground.

"Dere he is!" snapped Bebop. Rocksteady lifted Ash up, holding his arms in place.

"Let me go!" cried Ash in a girlish voice. He kicked frantically.

"Where's da Anxietron Ray!?" demanded Rocksteady.

"He betrayed me!" wailed Ash as the portal opened and Shredder emerged. "He used the Ray on me!"

"Figures youse twoips tink of demselves!" scoffed Bebop. Shredder noticed a problem with Ash's behavior.

"Rocksteady!" he snapped. "Bebop! Get away from him immediately!" Bebop and Rocksteady turned to Shredder.

"Da boss…" irked Bebop.

"Well, I hope you feel betta afta undastandin' our feelins," Rocksteady urged.

"You incompetent idiots!" scowled Shredder. "That brat's not under the Ray's effects!" Bebop and Rocksteady didn't believe Shredder.

"Boy, he sure fights as if he is," Bebop shrugged.

"I…" whined Ash. "I…" Finally, he grinned. "Gotcha!" Suddenly, a crunch. Shredder watched and turned his head away while Rocksteady cried in agony.

"OOH!" cringed Shredder. "I don't think the kids at home saw that." The Turtles emerged where Bebop aimed his laser and Rocksteady lied in a fetal position. Leonardo sliced the laser with his Katana. Bebop looked stunned as Rocksteady slowly recovered… only to get kicked to Bebop by Donatello and Raphael. The Turtles were back to normal.

"Get 'em, dudes!" cheered Zach. Seeing the Ray, Ash pondered the weapon in Zach's hands.

"I wonder…" he thought before grinning. "I think I have an idea." Zach became curious as Brock, Splinter and Pikachu watched from the side.

"What's that, Ash?"

"Let me see that Anxietron Ray for a sec." Complying, Zach handed the Ray over.

"What do you have in mind?"

"You'll see. Now, let me see here…" He started to mess with the dials. "Aha! Got it!" Brock and Pikachu reached Ash when he also saw him working on the Ray.

"Wait a minute, Ash," Brock started. "Are you actually planning to do what I think you're planning to do?"

"You know me, Brock," Ash sneered as he turned to the Turtles. "Guys! Lure them this way!" The Turtles reached the boys, ready to strike. Bebop and Rocksteady charged at the Turtles. "Jump!" The Turtles leaped out of the way to where the rogue mutants eyed Ash with the Ray.

"Twoip's got da gizmo!" gawked Rocksteady. Ash flashed a grin.

"Uh oh…" gulped Bebop..

"Have a taste of your own medicine, bozos!" yelled Ash before he pulled the trigger. The Ray's beam struck Bebop and Rocksteady to which they were instantly in fear.

"MAMA!" cried Bebop as he ran.

"NO, NO!" screamed Rocksteady. "GO AWAY YOUSE TOO SCARY!" He started to run as well before Michelangelo and Raphael kicked them to Shredder who picked them up in each hand.

"You no-good Nimrods!" snarled Shredder. "How dare you conquer the world without my permission!" He threw them through the portal before turning back to the Turtles, not willing to confront them. "Consider this your lucky day, Turtles… I have to discipline those two for their disobedience!" He entered the portal before it closed.

"Well, that's one issue over and done with," Raphael sighed. Suddenly, their Turtle Comms rang. Leonardo picked it up, finding April.

"Guys, Gorgonzola's heading in your direction!" she warned. Looking, the robot was entering the railroad site. They also saw the train about to intersect.

"And Pete's inside!" figured Ash.

"Let's get going!" urged Leonardo. They boarded the Turtle Van before they raced after Gorgonzola. They reached the robot where the Turtles exited.

"Freeze, buster!" shouted Raphael to Gorgonzola. "You're under arrest!" Gorgonzola stomped passed the Turtles who dove clear. "Well, that went as predicted." Leonardo carved the robot's rubbery heel before looking inside.

"Dudes, we'll never make it through all that junk!" irked Michelangelo.

("Let me go in!") squeaked Pikachu. The Turtles looked to Pikachu who was on Zach's shoulder.

"Let me in as well!" added Zach,

"Are you sure?" asked Brock.

"Let them," Leonardo sided. "Zach and Pikachu are small enough to get in there."

"And his Iron Tail can help get Pete out of there!" added Ash. Zach heard Ash and turned to Pikachu.

"Can you trust me?" he asked.

("I can!") replied Pikachu. They entered as April arrived. One Gorgonzola kick dislodged Pete's case and flew towards Raphael's feet which he picked up.

"I wonder what this is," he noticed. Inside, Zach and Pikachu crawled their way through the robot before finding Pete still upside-down.

"Pikachu, am I so glad to see you!" he sighed. "But are you a friend!?"

"I'm more than a friend!" proclaimed Zach. "I'm a Turtle! Use that Iron Tail!" Pikachu swung Iron Tail and sliced Pete freed. He fell, but he landed on his feet at the bottom. They crawled out as Gorgonzola neared the tracks with the oncoming train. Safe, April hugged Pete while everyone retreated. They watched as the train smashed into Gorgonzola, destroying the robot. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Boy, I'm not sure I can look at Japanese Kaiju monster movies ever again," Pete huffed.

"Tell me about it, dude," Michelangelo agreed. "If it was that easy to destroy Gorgonzola in the movies, they'd never have any sequels." Pikachu laughed to Michelangelo's point. Raphael came to Pete with the jewel case.

"Did you lose something inside?" he guessed. Seeing the case, Pete gasped.

"Did April see it?" he questioned. Raphael sneered to the question.

"Oh, that's what's going on," he believed. "Are you going to do it after we stop Shredder once and for all?"

"Maybe…" smiled Pete. After the crisis, the Turtles gathered in the Lair with Zach looking at Ash's pictures.

"And an official of the New York Fire Department used the Anxietron Ray to return everyone to normal," April reported while showing Ash, Brock, Zach and Pikachu on screen. "But the real heroes are these young boys who single-handedly recovered the device and saved Channel 6's own cameraman." Seeing pictures of Ash's and Brock's friends, Zach admired May's appearance.

"She looks like a nice girl to hang around with," he awed.

"You like May based on a photo?" wondered Brock.

"I have a good sense of judgment," Zach proclaimed.

"You're not wrong," Ash agreed. "She was nice to Pikachu, and she can be to those around." Splinter came to Zach with praise while Pikachu hung on the mutant rat's shoulder.

"Zach, you have proven yourself worthy of our honor," he praised.

"Thank you, Master Splinter," Zach smiled. "I don't feel so afraid of performing in front of others."

"Well, I doubt any of us will be afraid of anything," Raphael smirked before a tiny mouse crawled over his foot. He yelped, jumped and grabbed a pipe attached to the ceiling. Everyone looked up to Raphael's antic, bothering him. "What!? Everybody gets a little tense once in a while!" Other than Splinter, everyone laughed. Fears seemed to have subsided in Manhattan.

TO BE CONTINUED…
(I will pause for a couple of one-shots before resuming with Tenchi. Meanwhile, keep up the voting for the All-Stars as we're closing in on the end of the year.)