I brewed Alex chamomile tea. I used a spare kettle beside Dad's antique one. Dad is skeptical about anyone touching it except him. My friend took the cup silently. I sat next to her. She looked down at the tea staring at her reflection. I wasn't used to seeing her quiet and upset. I thought of her/them as a strong, outgoing person who speaks their mind.

"Hey... about those sketches... wanna share them with me?" I asked, hopefully, a bright attitude would enlighten her mood. Sadly, nothing. Not even a smirk. I sighed. "Listen, Alex. Raph... didn't mean those things. He's just... scared... I guess I'm kind of to blame for being part of it. I'm not sure how it started. Raph loves animals! He's not afraid of rabbits. Maybe it's just that first episode of Mrs. Cuddles we saw as kids, and he started to wet his shell and freak out. We never really know why. We were kids... we've made fun of him since... still, Raph shouldn't take his anger out on you..."

Alex was still silent until "Raphael looked at me like my father did." I looked at her. She swirled her cup around. "My father is a strict lawyer. He expects me to walk the same path as he does despite my... imperfections." Imperfections? I don't see anything wrong with her. "Let's say I was born rather unique. My mother, bless her soul, was a fashion designer and model in Paris, France. I wanted to be just like her. My father was fuming mad and wanted nothing to do with me. Raphael reminded me of the day my father told me I was a waste of life and that he had a better chance at adopting a sad orphan than having me as their child."

That was a heavy load to swallow. How can anyone be that cruel to their own kid? "Comparing us together, you're more normal than I am", I told her, "You're talented, headstrong, and you don't let people get you down. Your father shouldn't be any different. I know you're going to get far because you have got the drive and the determination." I pulled away and looked into her eyes. "As for Raph, I know he's not directly mad at you. I'm sure once everything clears up, he'll be as gentle as a kitten."

Alex grew silent as she placed her cup on the table. "What if he doesn't?" I tilted my head. "I like your brother, Leonardo." I blinked. "I like, like him." I blinked again. My face morphed to realization."Oh... Just give him some time to himself", I advised, "he'll come around."

Alex sniffed and offered a small smile. "You're a sweetheart, Leany Beany. God, I must be a mess." she took out a compact mirror. She gasped at her reflection. "Goodness gracious! I looked like the Bride of Frankenstein! Hold this dear." I took her mirror as she pulled out a makeup bag from underneath her dress. First a sketchpad, now a makeup bag. What next? A grenade?

I watched her wipe the makeup off her face and started applying a fresh coat. "I have a question", I said.

"Hm?"

"How do you know if you like someone?"

Alex paused with her lipstick hovering over her lips. "Any reason why?" she resumed her segment.

I felt my face heating. "Well... I... you know... for Donnie! I'm asking for Donnie. My twin would use logic and data rather than asking a professional." Alex put her lipstick away and pulled out a tube of mascara.

"Let's not go around in circles, darling. I need the full story rather than a short tale." I sighed and told my fashionable friend everything from the dance up to the oozequitoes in the hotel, especially telling Alex about my almost engagement to a spider yokai. Xander was insistent I marry him. "You, my young turtle friend, are living a soap opera", Alex stated, putting away her makeup bag.

"The worst part is I said I'm in love with Merrill to my spider groom." I turned to Alex who was staring at me with her green eyes widened. "What?"

"You're in love with Merry Bear!" she shrieked before jumping on me. "Ohmigawd! Ohmigawd! You make me so happy! Wait a minute..." she pulled me away giving me a stern look. "You haven't told him, have you?"

I looked away. "Um..."

"Oh, Leany Beany..." Alex sighed.

"What? I felt it might be a little too soon. Besides, I could be overlooking this. Instead of love, I could mean love like a friend. A comrade in arms. I can't believe I said that."

"Oh please, darling. Out of everyone in the school, Merrill asked you to the homecoming dance. You danced with him the entire night..." not the entire night per se, "out of everyone he hung out with, he prefers to be with you. Merrill doesn't see you as a freak, he sees you as a person. If that doesn't scream love, then the world needs to redefine its definition."

"Merrill can have anyone he wants –"

"Let me stop you there. Yes, the Sexy Lucifer can have anyone. He's rich, handsome, witty, and smart; however, out of all those bitches and douchebags out there, he will choose you. Anyone with half a brain can see how much you two want to make out." I groaned, covering my face. "I will say this: tell him soon otherwise, someone will take Merry Berry away. That bitch Kendra is working hard to get his trust back." As much I hate to say this, Alex made a point. I just hate the fact it's too soon. I don't want to move through our friendship so fast. I like where we are now.

Would it be any different if we started dating?

A scream echoed through the sewers. It sounded like Donnie. Alex and I left the kitchen and headed for the scream. We reached Donnie's room to see Mrs. Cuddles holding Dee's techbo with the saw revving on while Raph was beneath her. He was holding onto the bo trying to get the saw away from his face. What shocked me was that Mrs. Cuddles, the puppet, was alive laughing like a maniac. Alex jumped into action.

"GET YOUR PLUSHIE BODY OFF MY MAN, BITCH!" Alex hit Mrs. Cuddles with Donnie's iron head. The plush bunny was unconscious as we went over to Raph. My big brother was huffing. Alex grabbed his face and turned to check for any damage. "Raphael, are you alright?"

Raph stared between Alex and Mrs. Cuddles not saying a word. Then, my brother grabbed Alex and gave her the biggest hug ever! Alex graciously returned it.

"Raph, what's going on?" I asked, breaking the touching moment.

He gently pushed the fashion designer off him. "I told you Mrs. Cuddles was alive, but ya'll didn't listen! First off, ha! In your face! I was right! Second, I shouldn't have screamed because Cuddles gets bigger whenever she hears a scream." in no time, the bunny's body did get bigger. Cuddles lifted her body, but Alex rammed the blunt object against her head. "I'm starting to like you", Raph said with such praise.

"Okay... this is getting difficult. How do we shrink her?" I asked.

"I can try hitting her, but even I know it's not a permanent solution", Alex said.

"We need to find out where Mrs. Cuddles left the others", Raph said, "she said she trapped them somewhere."

I nodded. "For now, we need to restrain her. Maybe Donnie has some rope lying around here."

"Not a chance!" Mrs. Cuddles sprang into action and ran off. Alex and I pursued yet she was already out of our sight. She sure was quick as a bunny.

"WE lost her? How could we lose her?" Raph asked, running up to us.

Alex bit her nails. "Did Cuddles already has the sluts in her grasp? She sure works fast for a little thing."

Right. Raph says Cuddles get bigger with every scream. She probably went to recharge or something. We need to capture her.

"We need to set a trap. Knock her down and then find a solution to weaken her", I stated.

"Yes! I like that plan!" Raph agreed, nodding his head. "What do you have in mind?"

~Lady Ai~

"I take that back. I hate this plan", Raph whispered through his phone. Alex and I were above him ready to pounce when Mrs. Cuddles struck. "Why am I the bait?" the plan was to lure the bunny to Raph since is afraid of her. Then, we jump on her and hold her down. Knocking her out seems to be an option so far. Alex was holding Dee's bust. I had my sword ready.

"Just walk around being yourself", I told him, "She's bound to show eventually." Raph whimpered as he did his thing.

We heard a creepy chuckle throughout our home. I looked next to me to see Alex clutching the bust. Raph heard it as well. Alex tapped my arm and pointed at a huge shadow on top of the skate ramp. It jumped behind my brother with a heavy thud. Out of the shadows was Mrs. Cuddles and HOLY SHIT did she get big! She's half the size of our ramp!

Raph slowly turned around to see the oversize bunny. He opened his mouth to scream but quickly recovered. "You're huge. I see you met Mikey. Wait, where is everyone?"

"A place where I can hear their screams! Forever!" She spoke. That's where Cuddles started her attacks. From our height, Raph was holding his ground, but he was getting exhausted with each strike. He was smacked by her long ears as she twirled. He collided against the wall. She ran toward him, but I blocked her path while activating a portal. She went through with ease.

I sighed. "Raph, you OK?" I turned to my brother, seeing him rub his head. Alex was helping him stand.

"Yeah... I'm good, Leo", Raph replied, "where did you send her?"

I smirked, twirling my sword with pride. "To a far, far land where she will never come back. Suddenly, another portal opened and out popped Mrs. Cuddles! I gulped. "I thought I did." Damn it! I thought I had the portal thing down already!

Cuddles glared down at me. "That wasn't very nice! I should destroy you as I did to that black cat!" My insides went cold. Did she... did Cuddles... I shook my head. No! He's alive! Alex jumped onto Cuddles with the metal head. The bunny shoved my friend aside. Alex hit the ramp and slid down unconsciously.

"ALEX!" Raph ran to her. Mrs. Cuddles grew bigger. How can we defeat her? She gets bigger with every scream. What's the opposite of screaming? Before I could think of anything, I was slammed down with Cuddles hovering over me. My wig came off. My sword was pushed aside. How did everything turn bad so fast?

Cuddles' eyes looked into mine. I struggled against her weight. "You're a meanie. Cuddles doesn't like meanies! Say nighty night!" she lifted her arm to punch, however, a dark shadow shoved her off me. I sat up to see a big black creature diving its claws into her stomach. I covered my mouth and turned away from the grotesque scene. I tried to block the image and she screams out of my mind.

'KILL! KILL! WATCH HER SQUIRM!' my eyes widened. I turned to the creature. That can't be... That's Merrill?! The creature lifted its head and looked my way. Its eyes were red with no pupils causing me to shiver. '...must kill to protect...' Oh my God! Merrill! What happened to you? 'Merrill...? Who is Merrill? Is he human? Our new master?' I looked at Cuddles. Her insides were exposed. Her intestines were in perfect view of my vision.

"Leo! Get away from that thing!" Raph warned me holding Alex protectively. I couldn't... I'm scared... I'm terrified that Merrill attacks blindly. But I had to do something.

I slowly stood. Merrill growled. Slobs of saliva were spilling out of his mouth and through his jagged teeth. I glanced at Cuddles who was slowly crawling away. "Hey, big man. It's me. Leo. You're selling the Big Bad Wolf trope, Merrill. Now it's time to come back to Earth", I spoke calmly walking toward the dark monster.

"Merrill? That's Goth Boy!" I heard Raph exclaim. "Since when can he do that?"

I refocused on my best friend. "I'm safe. We're okay. I want you to come back. Can you do that?"

Merrill growled like a feral animal. 'No! I need to finish the hunt! I'm not satisfied! A life for a life!'

I lifted my hand over. "You don't need to do that... You won. That's enough for me... I want my friend back..." he snapped his jaw, but he didn't bite me. I jerked a bit. I inhaled and tried again. "Everything's fine." I caressed his cheek. The touch was like touching the surface of the water. We stared into each other's eyes.

'I did well...?'

"Not exactly... but you did what you did... you can rest easy..." the shadows shifted. Then, they dispersed revealing my friend in his costume. His eyes were back to their blue color. His eyes were wide as if he had just woken up.

"...Leo...? What happened?" Merrill looked at his hands to see his bloody hands. "I did this? I killed somebody?" he backed away. He began to hyperventilate.

"Merrill... calm down..."

"No! I killed somebody! I don't want this!" The shadows were consuming his body.

I walked to him. "Merrill! Stop! Just listen!" As soon as I touched his arm, he pushed me away. Terror filled his eyes.

"Don't come near me!" He fell into the shadows and disappeared.

I didn't have the strength to follow him. I looked at my arm where Merrill left his bloody mark.

I must find him! I must pursue him. Despite my legs suddenly getting heavier, I couldn't face the fact he was in pain. I was going to find Merrill, but unfortunately, I was hit by my neck.

Before I lost consciousness, I saw my father standing over me.