A Turtle on the Outside, a Wolf on the Inside

by Sairey13

Before Yoshi got the turtles from the Pet Store, Leo was found playing with the manager's dog, who was told to be a wolf-hybrid. Right before Yoshi took the turtles away, Leo ate some of the canine's fur and when he got mutated, the mutagen somehow enhanced the inside of his body to match a wolf's behavior and abilities. NO T-CEST, LEORAI or APRITELLO!

20. A Recipe for Disaster

August Fifteenth...
…I made it back home... Just as I promised Faunus that I would. After nearly six days of running from dusk till near dawn, having little time to hunt for food and search for water, barely keeping myself hidden during the day in case human hunters were to be in my area to do some illegal hunting and swimming through the Hudson River, I finally made it back to New York City... Where I eventually collapsed within the sewers, when I body could no longer keep pushing forward.

I didn't know how long I remained unconscious, but when I eventually woke up... I found myself back at the Lair, surrounded by my Pack, April and her father. My hands and feet were bandaged, which surprised me, because, while they did get cut from running through some sharp rocks and a few goat's head stickers... I actually thought that, while traveling in my Wolf-form, my actual body wouldn't suffer any injuries my second-body would endure.

Guess I should've known better and already figure out that in either form, any wounds and/or ailment I gained will effect the other just as much it does to one of the forms I'm in. I'll have to be careful should I receive any injuries while in my wolf-form; who knows what sort of effect it will have on me, when I turn back into my true form.

…I was expecting to be tears from Don, Mikey and April… I wasn't expecting Raph and, most of all, Master Splinter to shed tears when I woke up... At least, not in public. The very moment I woke up and barely uttered a single word to them, Mikey tackled me into a bone-crushing hug. Literally, squeezing the air from my lungs. The others did join in, of course… Even Sensei embraced me, which is something I'm still not used to getting. Karasu remained by my side, never leaving me. Not even to go to the surface, which she had been doing since my disappearance to continue looking for me throughout the city.

As expected, they asked me where I've been and, without revealing my rescuers and my new found ability to change into a wolf, I told them about finding myself in a forest and struggling to survive, while recovering from my injured ribs. I even informed them that, while heading home, that I was washed in Northampton for over a month. Surprisingly, April and her father used to live in Northampton, until they had to move when she was six.

It took me nearly two days of bed rest, before I regained my strength and got back to my feet. My hands and feet took an extra two days to recover, which I'm grateful that Donnie made a special cream to help accelerate the healing process that would've taken a little over a week for the scrapes to completely heal. I was also placed on a strict weight gain diet by Sensei and Kirby O'Neil... I wasn't too happy about the news, but didn't complain and was very relieved that they didn't let Mikey serve me his deadly concoctions that could put somebody in a food coma. I was even more fortunate when they allowed me to pick certain food I would eat, including requesting some fruits, a few herbed teas and ingredients I would use to make certain meals I will allow myself to eat.

…The only down fall, the stores they go to won't have some of the herbs I would gain from the forest that'll help me recover from the mutagen's negative effect to my stomach. However, the stuff they brought over will be more than enough to help my stomach handle food I normally wouldn't be able to consume without feeling sick or in pain. The teas I asked for, while not as effective as the herbs, should help continue the cleansing process that, hopefully, will also aid me with my nausea.

…I miss Northampton: The trees, the water, the wildlife... The freedom... Most of all, I miss my Forest-Sister and Soul-Brother, Faunus and Caela.

I knew they were both proud of me when I refused his offer to stay with them; Faunus knew that I made a promise, a blood-oath that I need to take care of, before I can allow myself to leave the city and live my life that I choose to live in. I need to rescue my half-sister, Miwa, from the Shredder's grasp and bring her back to her true family. My team and I, also, have to find a way to permanently get rid of Kraang. And to top it all off… Shredder's Death.

No matter how much I wanted to give in to my feral instinct to be part of the wild, I am needed here, in New York City, to help my father and brothers take on our enemies and make the city safe from Foot Clan, mutants and aliens.

While I am no longer with them... Faunus had given me very important informations that I need to be aware of, along with a certain gift he bestowed upon me. However, until I learn to form a strong bond with the trees of New York, like I have in Northampton, I won't be able to use Root Bond.

First off: While the berries and vegetations had, indeed, helped me with my stomach issue that the mutation caused damage to... It was only temporary and the effects will soon stop, the moment I stop eating the herbs. But, so long as I keep up with consuming other substitutes that have similar healing properties, they should continue the healing process. If I can't find any suitable substitutes, the mutagen in my stomach will continue damaging my insides and may end up turning into a poison to my digestive system.

The second information... It involves my transformation. Faunus has a theory to how and why I can suddenly change between my true-form and my wolf-form: He believes that the wasp that stung me in June, may have triggered it. When it stung me, not only was it injecting it's venom, but also pure mutagen to help further the production of it's venom to take complete control over me through my human-DNA. The bee, obviously, didn't know that I was also part wolf, which Kraang must've tried to make the bees do to better capture more humans for their experimental projects. He also thinks, because I'm an adolescence and that my anger and adrenaline was pumping that day, may have given the mutagen an edge to merge with my wolf-blood. So, when Don cured me from the bee's venom, he may not had known that I was also given extra mutagen from the bee and enhanced my wolf-DNA… Thus, giving me the ability to change between two bodies, at will.

Faunus also informed me, because of my long exposer to the venom and the bee's mutagen coursing through my body and merging with my wolf-DNA, that I have an immunity over brainwashing and mind-control. Meaning, to my greatest relief, I can't turn on my family… Though, that doesn't mean that I won't play a trick on my 'captures', just to get the upper-hand before I blow my cover.

…But the last thing he told me, is something that'll haunt me in my nightmares and make me more cautious when dealing with Kraang: As I'm already aware of, I'm a three-mixed creature between a Diamondback turtle, a human and a wolf. Two-third of my genetics is mammal, my human and wolf-DNA. And while one-third of me is reptilian, because I was born as a turtle, half of me is turtle, while one-fourth of me is human and the other one-fourth is wolf… Meaning, I'm only three-quart related to my brothers and one-fourth related to Master Splinter.

The mutagen has a certain method for balance amongst it's host it merges genetics and DNA with… However, because I'm also three-fourth animal, that makes me more dangerous than my brothers... More likely, when mutagen is involved.

Don once stated that if we get mutated again, we'd end up turning into a pile of mush. But that's far from the truth. Faunus stated that if we get mutated a second time, our bodies would end up progressing into something much fiercer and, if possible, turn us into feral animals… And he fears if I ever get mutated again, whatever my body ends up merging with, I would become very unstable, physically and mentally. But the worst thing that could happen, is if I get mixed up with a DNA of another reptilian and/or that the second mutation will put a strain to my current body, while altering my wolf-form. If that were to happen, because of the mutagen needing a form of balance, will deplete my turtle-DNA if the DNA I merge with is reptilian… Or, will deplete either my human and/or wolf genetics.

The only reason that I don't show any traits as a wolf on the outside, is because I swallowed the mutagen and merged it with the furs I swallowed from Shadow. If the furs were to be outside, during the mutation, I probably would have claws, maybe have some part of me be covered with fur, a wolf's tail, or even wolf ears and a snout… Though, that may not be the case and the results would be much more different.

I promised Faunus that I would do whatever I can, that's within my powers, to avoid getting mutated. I may not be able to see if I would end getting mutated for a second time, or if my brothers or Sensei could end up getting double mutated. All I do know is this: It doesn't matter if Fate or Destiny has a role in this. So long as there's breath in me, nothing will keep me in my way from completing and reaching my goals.

---

"Ninja Dodgeball!" Michelangelo cheered, catching the Kraang Communication Orb that Raphael tossed towards him. The red-masked turtle caught it in both hands.

"Stick it in your shell!" Raph called out, tossing the orb at the tire-swing, which pushed it right into the Space Heroes pinball machine when the orange-masked turtle ducked. In the direction it hit the pinball machine, the orb shot straight towards the Shoji, making it's way towards Sensei… Who, without coming out of his meditative state, used his Jade-Cane sword to tap it right back to the living-room, resuming his meditation... Accompanied by his eldest-son, Leonardo, who remained meditating as well, on the other side of the tree.

Not long after he got better, though is still under the weight gain diet, he immediately went back to training. However, wanting him to slowly gather his strength to resume training, Splinter decided to focus on meditating and performing a few Katas. As expected, Leo didn't object or complained to the decision; despite having to increase his speed, endurance and improving skills of his own, his strength had faltered a bit since he's been a bit picky on hunting certain animals that weren't expecting offsprings or younglings and mostly relying on herbs and vegetation to help his stomach.

He also decided, while the mediated, he will proceed to form a connection with their Peach Tree* and soon, the trees of New York. Luckily for him, he just needed to bond with a certain amount of trees within the city and will then be able to use Root Bond with all trees in the city. He hoped that, one day, he'll be able to be as skilled on using Root Bond as Faunus and his brothers.

Taking her spot between the back of his head and the edge of his shell, Karasu decided to take a nap, still continuing on taking in the comfort that her big brother is alive and is back home. Becoming his Little Shadow. She knows how unresponsive Leo and Master Splinter are whenever they're in the middle of meditating, and how it's best to never try and disturb them during their meditation.

…If only her older-brothers Raphael and Michelangelo were respectful as she is, instead of deciding to be disruptive in the Lair.

"Hey!" Now, April's voice called out from the entrance, prompting both father and son to come out of their meditation. In the process, Karasu was forced to get up. Her nap completely ruined.

"Couldn't they had taken their game, outside of the nest and somewhere in the sewers?" She grumbled out, ruffling her feathers.

Them being destructive in the Lair, means they're going back to normal.

Leonardo, smirking at her irritation, reached out with his right-arm, silently telling her to perch on his limb. She did as she was instructed, earning some soothing strokes by her big-brother.

May be of some relief of Kins to retain Pup-like antics. However, using property Omega-Brother Donatello possesses to gather information from Kraang is not wise of Kins to use as object to destroy Den.

"Why must they insist on playing their game inside of the Lair, and not in the sewers?" Master Splinter questioned, starting to make his way outside of the dojo when Donatello's voice came out, demanding to know why the Kraang Communication Orb is being used as a ball. Behind him, Leo slightly coughed up a laugh, as Karasu let out a high pitch "Auh!".

"Did Papa read my mind?!"

At that, the blue-masked turtle allowed himself to chuckle, continuing his gentle petting to the raven/crow-hybrid.

"I think that was just a mere coincident, Kara." He whispered, following Master Splinter to see what the commotion was about.

"This is a rare and fragile piece of alien tech! You guys can't just-" The genius turtle berated his two brothers, both of which not interested to take his word seriously and cut him off in mid-sentence.

"Eh, don't get your shellundies in a tangle, Donnie. The Kraang are toast!"

"Yeah, lighten up, Dude. This is a party! Wow! Unh!"

Splinter decided to put an end to their dispute, and get them back on track to an important question that's been bothering him since July.

"My sons... I know you are still joyously reveling in the defeat of our enemies, but a great question remains."

"What if cupcakes could talk?" Mikey answered, his mind still set on eating something sugary and sweet to celebrate.

Leo held in a sigh.

'The thoughts and minds that goes on in his heads...'

"Are our enemies truly defeated?" Their father stated. "The Shredder is a crafty and patient foe who bides his time."

Nobody within the Lair didn't like what he just said.

"You really think he'd be back, Sensei?" Donnie asked. "You told us he lost whatever sense of honor he had left. Besides, we haven't gotten the chance to truly celebrate our success, since-…" The genius turtle stalled on his sentence, as he and the others stared at the blue-masked turtle, who felt a bit awkward by the stares and turned his gaze to the ground beneath him. "Well, you know... We feel now is still the time to actually celebrate."

"Yeah, and if Shredder does show up, we got it all taken care of." Raph stated, pulling his sais out to show he's ready to fight their archenemy.

The three started making their way towards the exit, planning on continuing their celebration while patrolling the city. Leonardo could only stare, disbelief that their actions.

'Did they not here what Sensei just told us?'

Kins listened... And Kins preferred to ignore warning of Alpha's words and law.

Father is going to give it to them, now.

Just as his Conscience predicted, the humanoid-rat was just at his limit and wasn't going to let his three sons ignore his words.

"Tomaru (Stop)!" Splinter yelled, cutting off his son's sentence. His yelling started his three younger-sons and Karasu, while Leo was very much prepared for this conversation to come up. "You three have become lazy, overconfident. You shirk your training. This party ends... Now!"

He slammed the end of his Jade-Cane/sword, making all his sons immediately straighten and bow to him, even Karasu couldn't help but straighten up tall to the loud thump of his cane to show he has her undivided attention while Leo still held his arm out as he bowed, as the fifty year-old made his way back to the dojo.

"Well that was kinda harsh." Michelangelo replied, a bit upset that he's most likely won't be getting those sweets his mind was hooked up on.

Setting Karasu back to his shoulder, Leonardo slowly made his way to his brothers.

"Sensei is right, you guys." He said, wanting them to see reason on why they need to get back to training. "Just because we prevented an alien invasion and that neither Kraang nor Shredder made any attack since that day, doesn't mean we should be getting cocky."

As always, Raphael chose not to take his words seriously.

"Ha! It's not cockiness when ya got the skills to kick massive-"

Suddenly, without warning, the Kraang Communication Orb, held within Donatello's hands, started to flash multiple, tiny pinkish-purple dots. It let out a humming sound, cutting off the red-masked turtle's sentence.

"Whoa…"

April, who came out from the kitchen, after setting the two boxes of pizzas on the table, stood in-between Leo and Don.

"That thing's working again?" She asked, not liking the sound it was making.

"It's been quiet for weeks." Donatello replied, not sure how to explain on why it's suddenly working, again. "It must have received an incoming signal. Which can mean only one thing."

"Cupcakes can talk!" Mikey cried out, earning an annoyed look by the purple-masked turtle.

Already knowing the answer, Leonardo glared angrily at the orb. A low growl escaping his throat.

"The Kraang are back." He growled.

Just as expected. Enemies return, continue blood and war Kraang created with Pack.

Understanding what his brother just said, Mikey's happy mood immediately went away… And, in his mind, glimpses from the past of their last encounter with Kraang nearly costing them their brother's life.

"I guess the party really is over."

With that said, they all immediately head for Don's Lab. Once inside, Don quickly hook the orb back to the special hook-up scanner he installed to his computer, getting back to encrypting it's message. While he, Leo, April and Karasu watch what the results would bring up on the screen, Raph and Mikey went to the tank that held Timothy, staring at him and, occasionally, tapping at the glass to see some form of reaction.

A few minutes later, Don got something.

"The encryption's tough to crack, but it seems like the Kraang are transporting some kind of cargo." He quickly typed away, digging further to the information the orb was giving out. It brought up a clear image that the guys should recognize very well. "They're using the stealth ship!"

Leo knew there was a chance that the Kraang would have more than one stealth ship, along with a blueprint to create more. Even if he figured there was a chance that on their own home world time would be many more times faster than Earth's, learning that they would be using another stealth ship still amazed the blue-masked turtle on how fast and quick they were able to make a new one.

They must've taken the time to make more stealth ships, since their first one got completely destroyed by the missile launcher. Which means, this ship won't be the last stealth ship you and the others will have to destroy… Unless, you find a way to destroy all their blueprints and the rest of the ships they made.

'It's not going to be easy, but it'll be the only option we have. For now, we have to focus on this ship, first.' "We've gotta find out what that cargo is. -He turned to Donnie.- Don, are the beacons we installed still setup and active?"

His brother smiled to his answer.

"Affirmative," he answered. "We can also track it with this." He held up an old Game Boy Console with his right-hand, with two steel turbo beaters as antennas installed on top and a big button added to the small console. "It's aligned to the radar dishes. A triangulating pulse-"

"English, Professor Brainioff." Raphael cut him off, not wanting to hear more boring, science that he and Mikey don't understand.

Annoyed by his brother's interruption, Don complied to his request.

"It will detect the Kraang spaceship." He explained, a bit slowly to purposely get back at Raph. He then turned to April, who was petting Karasu. "April, can you stake out a rooftop and feed us the ship's coordinates?"

She didn't seem that thrilled to Don's request.

"Me? I don't know anything about radar!"

She clearly shows sign to not wanting to encounter the Kraang, not after what they did to her in July and making her feel guilty of Leo's decision to stay behind on the Technodrome. However, because they can't track it and pursue it at the same time, they can't risk damaging the small device if they end up going into battle with Kraang.

Leonardo hates to force include her for the task, but he hoped that the instant they get the coordinates, her task for the mission will be complete and will be free to return to the safety of her own home.

Even if she was given some instructions to figure it out, she could, by accident, give the wrong coordinates. Plus, somebody will have to spot her and make sure that the beacons don't get damage or tampered with.

Hatchling-Sister Karasu can observe beacons, even spread word to Wind-Soarers not harm beacons… Yet, still need another to watch over Upsilon-Sister.

'Agreed... And sadly, there's only one person we know who can be out in the open with her.' "What about your dad?" He forced out, hating himself for now bringing her father to the conversation.

"My dad?" April repeated, sounding a bit irritated of her overprotective parent being brought up, especially since it took nearly an hour of wheedling to convince him to let her go to the Lair and bring the guys some pizzas. "He barely lets me out of the house anymore. He's never gonna go for this."

Catching what Leo was asking their human-friend to do, Donatello went along with including Kirby.

"Please, April!" He begged, raising both his hands. "Your dad's a scientist. We really need his help!"

April was at a loss on what to do. she knows, from the bottom of her heart, that her father will never agree to help her or the turtles, since the Kraang will be involved... But, if the Kraang are attempting to bring back their plot of taking over the world, then she has to get herself involved.

And what Donatello said, is true. They're going to need help from her father.

"I'll... I'll see what I can do."

She walked out of the lab, with the tracker in hand, heading for the exit of the Lair to get into position.

As their human-friend leaves, Leonardo turned to Karasu. He let out a very love rumbling sound.

"Stay close to her."

Taking the message seriously, Karasu spread her wings and immediately took off to the hidden shaft that'll lead her out of the Lair and to the surface.

Is it really a good idea to send her? Wouldn't it be better if she stayed behind? She could send the message to the birds to be in a lookout, but why have her go with April?

'...I need her to get ready, when something happens and alerts them of the danger.'

...Vision? Another glimpse of Future?

'I'm afraid so...'

Any ideas what it's telling you?

'…No...'

He closed his eyes, feeling the vision coming back to throb his mind.

---

Bats… Screeching. Flying out of the shadows.

Lights falling from the sky... Like stars...

Two screams... A male and female...

"You're my only friend, now."

---

The voice who spoke to him belonged to April, but was very confused on why she would say that to him.

"Yo, Leo! Get out here!" Michelangelo called out, pulling the blue-masked turtle from his thoughts about the vision he had in his dreams last night and headed out of the lab to see what was going on in the tunnels.

…There, he saw what looks to be a makeshift rocket that children would ride on in amusement parks. However, this one has a built-in propeller that looks to be from an airboat and the cart clearly showed signs of being connected to other kiddie cars to make room for all four brothers.

"I call it... the T-rawket!" Donatello proudly introduced, after giving out each a helmet and the backpack that housed their Turtle Gliders for his brothers to wear.

Leonardo gave him a blank look.

'Why does every invention he makes that ends up being of use to us and our missions, start with the letter T or turtle related?'

…Because you guys are turtles?

'That doesn't mean he has to give them names that's turtle related, or start with T. What's next? A blimp that's called "The Turtle Blimp"?'

That would actually be amazing… Though, where would he keep the blimp? It wouldn't fit in the Lair.

Enough talk. Must depart!

"Where are we going, Jupiter?" Raphael asked, thinking their genius brother went overboard with what they'll be riding in that looks like they're going into outer space, instead of catching the stealth ship.

"Jupiter!" Michelangelo cried out, eyes big in fear from hearing the name of a random planet Raph decided to bring up. "But that place is infested with space yeast!"

The three big brothers stared at each other, none having the slightest idea on where the youngest-turtle got that idea from. Knowing they need to get a move on, Leonardo put on his helmet.

"We wasted enough time. It's time to get going." He announced, getting his brothers to start getting into the T-Rawket and strapping themselves into their seat. Before he got in, he pulled out his T-Phone to contact April, an image of a white-deer standing next to a stream showed on his screen on what he views April as. "April, you guys in position?"

"Um, roger. I think." April answered, sounding a bit unsure from her position.

Outside of the background, Leo can hear Karasu chirping. No doubt, she was talking to other birds nearby. He also heard Kirby O'Neil, sounding a bit suspicious about their reason being on top of a roof.

"It's kind of late for a school project, don't you think?"

"It's, um, extra credit, Dad. We're... we're tracking, uh, pigeon migration!"

Leonardo had to cover his face to silence his laugh.

'"Pigeon migration"?! That's the best she can come up with?!'

Upsilon-Sister not know Rodent Flyers don't migrate?

'Seemingly not… Let's hope her father doesn't get wise and start asking her for the truth.'

"Is that the Kraang?!"

…Well, so much for keeping it secluded from Kirby.

Hearing Kirby's distraught voice, the blue-masked turtle got in the T-Rawket and strap himself in-between Donatello and Raphael.

"Coordinates locked! This is it." Don informed his brothers, starting up the engine.

"If we explode, I swear I'll slap the green off you." Raph warned.

Knowing they were all ready to go, Leonardo gave his brother the okay.

"Launch!" He yelled, prompting Donnie to push the red button.

From behind, the end of the propeller narrowed… Then, a blast of burning fire shot out and the four brothers took off.

He has never ridden on a rollercoaster before, but Leonardo is quite certain that if he was to do a comparison, the T-Rawket would very much prove to being faster then the average roller coaster.

We always believe that one of these days, Don's crazy inventions is going to kill us... And right now, feels like that day has finally come!

This why Pup no longer should trust Kin's creation involved with flight!

Feeling the air has froze in his throat, Leonardo kept his beak tight and tightened his hands into fists. While he remained quiet, his brothers all voiced out their own experience on riding a rocket.

"Whoo-hoo!"

"Whoa!"

"Cool!"

'Of course, they would be having fun at a time like this!' His heart hammered against his plastron, forcing himself to take small, even breath to stay calm, which isn't easy when rushing wind was blowing against his face. 'If we have a dog here with us, they wouldn't be having as much fun or thrill by this amount of force the wind would be slamming into their faces.'

…Imagine what Bradford would be like, if that were to ever happen.

The moment his mind imagine the humanoid-Akita Inu riding inside the T-Rawket or something similar to an actual rocket, yelping to figure out if he should be having fun by the massive amount of air blowing through his fur and into his nose, or be screaming and struggling to focus on what's going on from all sounds and smells messing with his senses, did brought a smirk to appear on Leo's face.

'That would be something to enjoy.'

The T-Rawket made a sharp curve-turn, continued picking up speed straight down the tunnels… Then, right in front of the humans, shot right out of the subway entrance and, as Donatello pulled the handles down, launched up to the sky, almost hitting a building that's still under constructions. The four turtles went higher and higher in the air, already reaching thirty feet in the air in over five seconds, until Donatello finally pulled the lever to his right.

…The T-Rawket stopped going higher, as it's fire was cut off and right before it started to nose-dive back down to Earth, the turtles were ejected from their seats and the wings of their Turtle Gliders were released.

Time seem to have slowed down for the blue-masked turtle, as he gazed up at the full-moon. His heart was racing, feeling the urge to turn into a wolf and howl to the glowing orb in the night sky... If he wasn't perfecting his backflip from the T-Rawket and righting himself to properly fly in the air.

'When we finish our mission... When I'm alone.' He promised in his mind.

"Booyakasha-! Oww!" Michelangelo's cry of pain... And witnessing him slamming at nothing but the air, was all the warning Leo got before he shifted himself to have his feet absorb the impact of making contact with metal.

Without a doubt, they found what the were looking.

"Looks like we found it." He commented, around the time Raphael slammed into the stealth ship after Donatello.

When they pulled themselves up, the four brothers scaled to the top of the ship, disconnecting the Turtle Gliders from their shells and to fall to a nearby building where April and her father stood. Without their Tegaki, they had to be careful and keep a firm grip to the smooth surface of the stealth ship. Clearly, with the ship continuing on going straight and not coming out of it's Camouflage Mode, they didn't alerted the Kraang from inside that they have company.

Which, after they each pulled out a hidden knife from their wrists to loosen a piece of metal from the ship, made it easy for them to startle the three aliens when the four came down from the hole from above.

"It is the ones who call themselves 'The Turtles'." One of the two Kraang at what most likely are the controls to the ship replied, sounding a bit concern.

"Kraang! We must alert Kraang!" A second Kraang replied, all three huddling up to the controls with their little pods… Though, from the way they positioned themselves, made the blue-masked turtles suspicious.

Something's not right.

'I know. It feels like they want us to keep their eyes on them for some reason. But why?'

"Huh! Three little floating blobs of brains, that's it?" Raphael mocked, not sounding a bit disappointed of the fight being boring by at least getting the chance to knock some Kraang around.

"We could take these guys in our sleep." Donatello replied, pulling his Naginata Bō out.

"We could take these guys in our sleep and with our eyes closed. Wha!" Michelangelo added in, not bothering to pull his Kusarigama from their hold when he'll be treating them like floating dodgeball.

Leonardo glared at his brothers.

'Didn't they hear Sensei saying they're being overconfident?'

Kins too cocky. Not allowing Instincts to warn them of threat.

'Whatever this threat is, it must be something big if the Kraang aren't contacting their leader of the cargo.'

From behind them, a low rumbling sound startled them to turn around and the rest of the brothers to pull their weapons out. There, they saw a door open and some form of mist coming out of the door.

Clank! Clank!

The sound of metal bending and being ripped off warned the turtles that whatever it was inside that room is coming out… There, stomping out, they saw what looks to be a Aquamarine-blue furred gorilla, walking tall and large, with mixture of wires and metals... With no head.

"Aw, sewer apples." Michelangelo cursed out.

"Uh, where's its head?" Raphael asked, finding it very odd that it somehow knows where it's going.

Then, making it's way towards the Kraang, as the brothers tried to lay an attack on it, the large gorilla-robot smacked them out of it's way. One of the Kraang floated towards it.

"Biotroid, engage." The alien announced, going to the top and placing itself inside the metal-hole of the body.

Leonardo and his brothers watch as the Kraang becomes one with the machine, locking it's pod into the gorilla-suit that's been called 'Biotroid' and activating it's battle mode. The body raised both it's fists in the air… Then, coming out from it's chest, two chainsaws connected to two connecting rods to the body*.

The humanoid-wolf/turtle felt his stomach churn.

'That's... I don't even know what to think!'

Either horrifying... Or disturbing.

"Okay, maybe we were a little cocky." Donatello said, almost as if apologizing to their enemies for belittling them. Leo glared at his genius brother.

'"A little"?! And you guys now realize what Sensei was trying to tell you!'

Before he could make a word come out, the Biotroid released his attack on the turtles by slamming both fists to the ground. Leonardo put himself at the front, blocking the chainsaws that tried to come down onto him and his brothers with his swords. However, one of the rods constricted around his right-arm and pulled him to the side. It released him, making him slam his shell against the wall of the ship.

Michelangelo, witnessing the Kraang being focused on Raphael, attacked from behind.

"Ooh, yeah!" As always, he had to alert the enemy of his coming, but even when the Kraang didn't turn on time to see the orange-masked turtle landing his attack on the body, the Kusarigama didn't do any damage to the suit at all. The alien turned to glare at it's new attacker. "Uhh…"

Completely at a loss on what to do, Mikey left himself wide-open to get thrown to the back of the ship. While recovering from the attack, his ninja reflexes allowed him to duck away from one of the chainsaws that tried to stab him in the shoulder.

Unknown to them, the chainsaw has actually damaged a scanner that was keeping a door closed… There, when it pulled itself out and the doors opened, revealed the mystery cargo the Kraang are trying to deliver.

Leonardo's eyes widen in horror.

'No...'

Of course, it had to be that!

Fear and horror ran through his mind, as he gazed at the many canisters of mutagen before them... Which then turned his fears into anger.

"The shipment!" He yelled, charging towards the Biotroid before leaping in the air, bringing down both Musashi and Kamiizumi down on top of the Kraang fighting his brothers. "It's Mutag-!"

The Biotroid, after tossing aside Donatello, sweep with it's left-arm to swat the blue-masked turtle to the front of the ship… However, to that Kraang's error, it caused the eldest turtle to ram his shell to the orb controlling the ship… Destroying it in the process.

He quickly picked himself up, kicking the two aliens away from the control panel, before turning back to the fight before him.

"Don! Get that door closed!" He ordered, pushing himself to get back into the battle.

With Raphael held in one of it's right-hand, the Biotroid made an attempted grab for Leo with his left... Leonardo delivered a stab through it's palm, forcing it pull away and release Raph from it's grip. Meanwhile, instead of listening to Leo about getting the door closed, Donatello and Michelangelo attacked in unison to strike from behind, releasing yells of war.

Leonardo growled.

'When will they get it in their heads, to not yell when attacking from behind!'

As he expected to happen, the Biotroid smacked the two away, sending them to the back of the room... Hitting another panel they, unnoticeably, activated.

"This thing's too tough!" Don informed, rubbing his head to cure the headache he gained.

Leo didn't bother to respond to the purple-masked turtle's discovery, too focused on fighting the beast while he and Raph were forced to pull back to stay clear of the chainsaws.

'How are we supposed to beat this thing?' He asked himself, swiping Kamiizumi to his left to force one of the chainsaws away from him.

Best option, would be to flee… However, Pup and Kins can't flee. Nowhere to escape.

Not only that, but we can't leave the mutagen with the Kraang!

"Oh, I got this!"

Dread filled Leonardo's heart when he heard Michelangelo's voice, turning his head to watch the youngest-turtle to come at one of the two Kraang at the control ship and kicking the non-prepared alien to the roof of the ship.

'Mikey! No!' His throat felt like it was constricted, preventing him from calling out, as he and the others watch the Kraang slam right down to the control panel... Below the Biotroid, the hatch opened and gravity attempted to pull the Kraang down.

While it's right-hand made a quick grab for the ledge, the left-hand, damaged from Leo's earlier attack, didn't response to it's desperate attempt to pull itself back to the ship.

However, to the turtles' horror, the Kraang used the two chainsaws to dig themselves to the ground of the ship and started pulling itself up and back to the ship.

Leonardo knew that he couldn't let that thing come back... He was left with only one option.

…Do it...

…Do what you must...

Without any hesitation, after securing his blades back into their sheaths, Leonardo charged at the Biotroid and shoved it back down the hole... Causing the both of them to fall out of the stealth ship and towards one of the buildings of New York.

"LEO!" He heard his three brothers cry out, helpless to do anything but to watch the two fall back down to Earth, as the ship continued heading heading east.

As the two continued to fall, the Biotroid bear-hugged Leonardo to it's chest with it's right-arm and shifted them to positioned the turtle to hit the rooftop before the Kraang disconnected itself from the gorilla-body. He struggled to break free, digging his fangs through the thick material of metal and fur to force the body to lose control in it's other limb. While his fangs would be strong enough to bend and break solid steal, it was no match for non-Earth metal.

'Move... Damn it, move!' He yelled in his head, trying but failing to turn the both of them to have the Biotroid to hit the ground before him.

…Release, Pup. Shift.

His eyes widened from his Instinct telling him what it wanted him to do.

'I can't. Not here, not when April and Kirby are in sight-range to witness-'

You can worry about that, after you've taken down Kraang-Kong!

Leonardo was stunned; now his Conscience, which avoids to agree with anything his Instincts would tell him to do that's involved with his animalistic behavior, is telling him to turn into his wolf-form.

It's either that, or sustain serious injuries that could lead to your death! Now, do it!

The rooftop was getting closer, and Leo knew that it was now or never. And so, without any hesitation, he closed his eyes… Then, when his eyes snapped open, his body immediately changed into a black-wolf.

With or without a head, the Biotroid didn't have time to prepare itself when the wolf in it's arm slipped out of it's grasp and planted himself on it's back. Leo jumped off of the robotic-gorilla's back and landed on the roof with ease, unlike Biotroid, which slammed right onto the hard cement.

A few sparks jumping off of it's fur and mechanical parts showed that it's taken damage, but still, after a drop, the Biotroid still found the energy to pick itself off the ground and get back up. The Kraang, which was able to glide down safely in it's pod, got back into the spot as the head of the body.

"Even if Turtle is now known in the form that is known as 'Wolf', Kraang still has the upper-hand to defeat the one known as Turtle."

The black-wolf simply glared at the Kraang, crouching low to the ground to ready himself to sprint or jump. His swords slightly leaned down but remained strapped to his back.

'Thank God Don was able to upgrade my belt and strap to firmly adjust to my size. Though, I can't say the same for the wrappings.'

As he shook the white-wrappings around his paws and pads around his four limbs to come off, while tightening the wrappings around his forearms to keep his hidden blades close by and pushing his mask to go over his snout to stay wrapped around his neck, Leo turned his head slightly to the right grab for Kamiizumi's hilt and pull it out from it's scabbard with his fangs. He prepared himself for his opponent to attack.

...What he didn't expect, was a Biotroid to turn it's back to him and reveal two metal butts to drop to the ground, revealing two gun cannons to pop out and take aim.

"Biotroid, engage." Kraang ordered, signaling the body to start shooting... Each blast administering the sound of gas releasing.

The black-wolf pushed himself to dodge the pink-blasts, using his tongue to turn his sword to rest against his cheek and keeping it in place with his fangs. With great speed, he dodged each and every blast that came to him.

As he ran from side to side, he mentally took noticed a few things going on around him: First, that the Biotroid is resting it's hands against the brick wall of the building. The second part, the Kraang is showing no signs of detaching itself from the gorilla-suit.

And third... A bunch of shining lights are falling from the sky... Coming from the stealth ship.

His stomach dropped, dread filling his heart when he realized that those shining lights are the canisters of mutagen.

"No!"

One of Leo's ears pulled back to the direction the sound of the voice came from, recognizing the caller being Kirby, until the sound of breaking glass followed suit… Then, a terrifying howl of pain and fear.

"Dad! No!"

Leonardo stopped for a moment, turning his head to the roof where he heard the voice of sixteen year-old, April O'Neil.

'April!' He called out in his head, before pushing himself to jump far to the left when the Biotroid continued shooting. He snarled at the Kraang, his fangs clenching tightly to the hilt of his sword. 'I need to end this… Now!'

Not bothering to worry of the possibility of getting hit, he charged.

The Kraang, taken back by the speed the black-wolf was going, froze up. The Biotroid, continuing to keep shooting, couldn't keep up with the canine's speed and when the black-wolf leapt in the air, couldn't make it's cannons follow the wolf's movement on time to keep attacking.

Leonardo, with the control of his tongue and being brought down by gravity, positioned himself and Kamiizumi to point down to deliver a deadly blow from above... The poor alien couldn't react on time to even make an attempt to save itself, for a second time.

The heavy scent of toxic-squid, fire and burnt fur entered his nose, making him putting more force of his blade to sink further into the struggling Kraang being stabbed through and screeching it's last breath before going limp. The Biotroid, overrun by the blade cutting through wires and the blood from Kraang mixing and merging into the damage wires, released sparks off it's body.

Immediately, Leo yanked the sword right out of his two opponents and launched himself right off the gorilla-body, right before the Biotroid suddenly exploded into a small-fireball. Before hitting the ground, the black-wolf forced his body to turn back into his humanoid-turtle's body. The fifteen year-old turtle, making sure his wrappings remained tied to his limbs and putting his mask back on his face, removed Kamiizumi from his mouth and sheathed his blade back into it's scabbard before running up the wall to get to April and Kirby O'Neil.

When he scaled the wall, he felt relieved when he saw April, completely unharmed. But when he looked to where she was staring at... His relief went south. There, perched up at the upper-part of the roof she stood on, is an enlarge, disfigured bat.

…A mutated bat, crossed with a human.

He immediately realized who the mutated bat was.

…It's Kirby O'Neil.

Upsilon-Sister's Sire… Omicron*-Uncle, turned by mutagen.

If it wasn't for the pointy-ears, two-extra pink-appendages from his back that also housed as his wings, the misshaped nose, the furs covering the bottom-part of his body, the large-fangs, three of his four limbs enlarged and exposing of claws, his head now three times larger than it's average size and the pulsing of mutagen all over his head and chest, Leonardo would clearly see the father of his human-friend standing before the girl.

Within the background, he noticed the sound of bats screeching and some flying off away from the area, as the rest went to hang underneath a rooftop water tower. To his shock, his sharp eyesights informed him that the bats were none other than Vampire Bats. The information made the humanoid-wolf/turtle worried for his friend and immediately ran to her.

However, his running drew Kirby's attention onto him, thanks to his strong hearing, and, feeling that the turtle was a threat that has come to harm him and this smaller-creature that he knew belongs to him, let out a disturbing screech and lunged in the air.

"Scrreeeeeeeeee!"

When taking notice of her turtle-friend that she and her father had seen falling from the stealth ship with a gorilla-body running towards her, she ran to the blue-masked turtle.

"Leo!" She called out a warning, unable to get to him from the distance between the two buildings they were on and could only watch as her dad dived down at the turtle.

Leonardo's first instinct was to grab for his swords, but because he knew the creature before him is the girl's father and not wanting to harm an extended member of his pack, he forced himself to not grab for his blades.

"Screeeeeee!"

When Kirby made an attempt to swipe him with his left-hand, the turtle forced himself to drop and roll to the right. He hit his shell against the wall, making the distance between the two only mere inches away from the claws slicing at his limbs and plastron.

"Dad! Stop!" April yelled at her father. She does not know for certain if he can understand her, let alone recognize her as his child. But, she knew that she may very well be the only person to reach out to him and save Leo's life. "Don't hurt him!"

When hearing her voice, Kirby remained hovering in the air, staring at her in confusion and cocking his head to the side. The response was very surprising to the blue-masked turtle.

'He listens to her!'

He may had been turned, but Kirby must still be in there.

Odd... Male Screech Flyers don't assist raising own young, yet Omicron-Uncle willing to protect and listen to own pup.

While he was glad that the humanoid-bat stopped attacking, Leo's worry for the girl only grew more.

"April! You need to get out of here!" He replied, keeping himself up against the wall should Kirby continue his pursuit to attack him. The human-girl gave him a serious look, showing no intention on leaving him or her dad.

Kirby stared down at the turtle, baring his large fangs and screeching down at him, as if scolding him for talking to his daughter… Or, in this case, his Pup.

"Dad!" She yelled again, making him stop his screech, before turning back to Leo. "Are you hurt, Leo? Where are the others?"

While keeping his eyes on Kirby, he answered the girl.

"I'm all right. As for the guys, they're still inside the stealth ship. -His eyes searched at the sky, narrowing his gaze at hoping to see a slight glimpse of uncharacteristic activity to alert him where the ship was at.- Let's hope that they find a way to bring the ship down. -He turned his gaze back to Kirby, who continued to glare down at him.- Right now, I need to convince your dad that I'm not a threat to you or himself."

"But how?"

As his eyes remained on the humanoid-bat, slowly and calmly... He pulled at the strap that held the scabbards of his swords off his right-shoulder, before letting his belt slide off his shell and let his gear pool around his feet.

Kirby and April were taken back by his action, as he stepped away from his swords... Then, to further the shock, he pulled at the wrappings around his wrists to release the hidden knives and have them fall next to the belt and strap. Leaving himself completely unarmed.

Kirby stared down at the humanoid-wolf/turtle, taking in the sight of the teenager exposing himself not able to attack him or his Pup... Signaling him that he isn't an enemy, and is proving himself to being an ally.

"Eeer…?"

While still a bit suspicious, the humanoid-bat calmly flew down to the rooftop, cautiously stalking over to the turtle, with his winged hands carrying him over to make himself bigger and taller than the already smaller-male.

"Dad!" April called out again, fearing he was going to hurt her friend. She made an attempt to pull out her Tessen, but Leo held out a hand at her direction, stopping her.

"Don't, April." He ordered, his eyes remaining locked with Kirby's enhanced green-eyes. "This is the only way for me to gain his trust. You mustn't interfere, or he'll view me as some pesky intruder that's making you react negatively to him."

She hesitated for a moment, but she eventually put away Shirogane, letting her mutated father to do whatever he wants with her turtle-friend.

As he came closer, Kirby made a few low, hissing sounds. Followed by a few clicking. Leo knew he was trying to test his reaction and see if he would respond to his sound.

'Remain calm, and stay quiet.'

His winged hands lowered him close to the ground, bringing him close enough to still appear larger before the fifteen year-old and enough room to pull away if he chooses to attack.

While this was going on, without breaking eye-contact with Kirby, Leonardo slowly forced himself to get down on his hands and feet, purposely making himself smaller and less of a threat. His actions made the humanoid-bat to lower himself even closer, his feet now touching the ground and hunching over to lean on his left-hand.

Guard lowering. Now, will detect Pup's scent. Must attempt to gather Omicron-Uncle's scent.

His eyes never turning away from Kirby's, Leonardo leaned in onto his knees and positioned himself to lay on his side, exposing his plastron and pulling his head back to show his throat. While the humanoid-bat leaned in closer and started sniffing the turtle, his attention no longer looking into Leo's eyes, the humanoid-wolf/turtle took the opportunity to slowly drag himself to his large-hand... And gently started rubbing his head against the furry-arm.

His stomach groaned when his nose smelt the mutagen on the humanoid-bat, making him feel a bit nauseous that he was trying to cover his scent with the creature's own that still held evidence of mutagen. Luckily for the fifteen year-old, mutagen tends to dry very quickly when the transformation of it's host was complete. Meaning, neither he nor April would run the risk of getting mutated from making physical contact with her father.

From the other side of the building, April was stunned. Here was her friend, lying on the ground before her mutated-father, who could easily kill him with the swipe of his claws or even rip his limbs off with his fangs, was somehow staying alive and is rubbing part of his body against her dad's enlarged-arm. And her father was just sniffing the turtle's plastron and shell, before turning to the turtle's head.

…Then, he nuzzled the turtle's head with his nose… Smiling down at Leo!

"Eeer!" ~Click-click-click~ *Rrrrumble*

Her heart leapt in her chest, while her legs turned to jelly and fell onto her folded legs.

'Oh, thank God…!' She thought, relieved that her father wasn't going to hurt or eat Leo... At least, for now. There's no telling what his mental state is at, and could set off to attack at any moment.

…And sadly, she was right.

"Whoo, yah!"

"Unh!"

From behind her, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo landed from swinging on their grappling hooks, after jumping out of the stealth ship. They saw their big brother crouched on his hands and feet, his weapons off to the side and a giant mutant looming over him, shoving his face against Leo's smaller-form and letting out random clicking sounds.

Obviously, mistaking the sight of their brother being injured and that this mutant was going to eat him or further hurt him, the three drew out their weapons.

"Let's move!" Raphael ordered, being the first to jump across the building and making an attempt to swipe his weapons at the mutant to keep away from his twin.

Leonardo, turning his head to the call of his red-masked brother, tried to get them to stop.

"Guys! Don't!" His words fell on deaf ears, along with the battle cries the three made, and the three brothers made their efforts to attack the mutant they didn't know to being Kirby O'Neil.

"Scrreeeeeeee!" *Snaaaarrrrlllll*

Alarmed, Kirby let out a screech and took off into the air, glaring down at the three intruders separating him from this Pup that he felt bonded to and now carries his scent. Despite clearly seeing that they're related, he has already imprinted the young as part of his colony and is willing to fight the three intruders to take back what he claimed as his.

He let out a powerful, angry screech, encouraging the three brothers to jump in the air and bring their weapons out to attack.

"Stop!"

"No! Don't hurt him!"

The combined calls of Leo and April, telling them to not attack, distracted the three long enough for Kirby to slam right through them in the middle of the air. Then, as the three fell back down to the rooftop, the humanoid-bat made a grab for Leonardo with his right-feet and then flew over to April, grabbing her in his left-feet. With both pups held within his grasp, the humanoid-bat took off into the sky, away from the three intruders and where the three of them will be safe.

"April!"

"Leo!"

---

A Few Minutes Later; at the Second Time About...
Kirby found what he saw as a perfect spot to deposit the two teenagers: A ledge of a building... The home where he and April lived. While they were flying, April passed out. Either from shock, fear or even from exhaustion, Leo didn't know for certain which. What he does know, as the humanoid-bat gently set the two down on the ledge before making short, hissing sounds and taking off to who knows where, that they can't stay on the ledge. However, at the same time, they can't leave the building, either.

'If we leave, he'll go on a possible rampage to look for us and harm the city.'

Even so, you both can't stay on the ledge forever and you need to find a way to contact your brothers.

He pondered on what he and April should do for minutes, until he heard the unconscious girl finally coming out of her sleep. Immediately, he scooted up to the front of the building to her side, checking her over for any sign of injury she could've sustained, before helping her sit up.

"Ugh… Leo?" She asked, hoping that she wasn't seeing things and that her friend is with her right now.

Leo smiled, nodding his head.

"I'm right here, April." He reassured, keeping his hand on her right-shoulder to prevent her from rolling off the edge.

Still a bit drowsy, it took her a moment to see that they're not on the rooftop.

"Where are we?" She slowly crawled on her hands and knees... And nearly slipped off the edge if Leo didn't keep his hold on her shoulder. The near falling alerted her that they're standing on a ledge, making her lean up against the wall. "Please tell me that this is a dream," she requested to the blue-masked turtle.

He shook his head to her plea.

"It's real."

Her sky-blue eyes locked on to the street and people casually walking by below her.

"How did we get here?"

Before he could answer her...

"Screeeeee!"

The familiar sound of a large, screech warned the two that Kirby has returned from wherever he went, coming down from above and perching up on the ledge, with his winged hands grabbing firmly to the wall behind them.

Kirby shoved his face forward, sniffing the girl, who pushed his face back, before turning to Leonardo. Unlike April, he didn't push him away, but he did scoot back a bit.

'Is he going to-?'

Brace self, Pup.

With or without the warning of his Instinct, Leo's hunch was confirmed on what the humanoid-bat was going to do... And after a few moments of hacking, he regurgitated a bunch of trash and a rat all over April's lap.

...What happened before him, nearly made the fifteen year-old regurgitate, himself, if he didn't try to hold back his dinner.

'Do not throw up. Do not throw up!' He chanted in his head, placing a hand over his mouth when he felt his stomach churn. 'One hint that tells him that I'm ill, and he'll toss me off the ledge to prevent April from getting sick.'

As Leo struggles to conceal his stomach problem, April had her own idea to express how ungrateful she is to her father's hard work to get them food.

"Ugh, sick!" She yelled, startling Kirby. "You expect us to eat that?! -She shoved the pile of regurgitated trash and dead rat off of her, before glaring at the humanoid-bat.- Now go! Go get us some real food! You go, Dad! Go!"

Understanding what she was telling him to do, Kirby took off to the sky to look for food for her and Leo, again. The moment he was gone, Leo leaned to his right and allowed his stomach to empty itself on his part of the ledge, where it all slid off and fell into the alleyway below him.

He gasped for breath, letting out a few coughs to help his throat and spitting out any remaining traces of vomit that still lingers, before his stomach finally settled.

'Thank God, he's gone. I didn't know how much longer I would have to hold it in, before it would come out!'

Yeah, but you also ended up puking the herbal tea out.

He groaned from the thought, knowing that he'll have to retake the tea before the night ends or delay the healing process, allowing the mutagen to regain it's effects to cause serious damage to his healing organ.

Behind him, April gently placed a hand on his left-shoulder.

"You okay, Leo?" She asked, earning a nod from the blue-masked turtle, who focused on catching his breath and inhaling the Summer's wind. "It looks like I bought us some time, until he gets back. We need to find a way to get off this stupid ledge."

With there being barely enough room for them to properly walk, they'd be lucky if they could stay curled up against the side until weather conditions forces them to move and make their spot too slippery for them.

"Auh aah!" A call of a bird drew their attention, looking over to seeing a raven/crow-hybrid who was, somehow, able to get out of the area when Kirby got mutated and followed them from the shadows.

"Leo! April!" Karasu cried out, hovering over the two teenagers, uncertain if she should perch on either of them when they don't seemed to be at a proper position that could distract them from staying safe on the ledge.

After hearing her voice, Leo slowly pushed himself to his feet. He held his left-arm, giving her a firm spot to perch on.

"Karasu." He whispered, forcing himself to lean against the wall. "Did the guys went back to the Lair? One for 'yes', two for 'no'."

She gently tapped his arm with her beak once, signaling the two teens that the others did get home.

"Did they made any attempts to follow us?"

She tapped his arm twice with her beak, telling them that they were wise to not make an attempt to follow. While they were right to not follow, unless April still has her T-Phone with her, the guys won't have any idea on how to find them.

And since they don't know about Kirby having some memories about his life as a human, they wouldn't think about checking their home or April's Aunt's House.

It was very troubling.

"Did they at least take my gear with them?" Leonardo asked, hoping that they had enough common sense to pick up Musashi and Kamiizumi, and not have him find his missing weapons.

Karasu tapped once on his arm, relieving him from the troublesome thought of figuring out where his swords are.

How will you be able to make contact with the guys?

'…No idea. I can't write to them.' He turned to April. "Do you still have your T-Phone?"

She quickly dug into her pocket and, from her gasp, pulled out the turtleshell-like phone from her back-pocket.

"I still got it!" She cheered, earning a smile from the blue-masked turtle.

"Good. -He turned to Karasu.- I need you to head back to the Lair, Karasu. I don't want to run the risk of you crossing paths with Kirby, especially on what he's become. Alright?"

The clever bird let out a few muffled chirps, before turning her back to her big brother and human-sister and, spreading her wings, took off towards the direction for home. When she was no longer in sight-range, Leonardo turned to the redheaded teen beside him.

"Get on my shell, April." He told her, turning his shell to her direction. "It would be easier for us to move, and I'll be able to get the both of us across if I must."

Not wanting to stay hanging on the edge and putting her T-Phone away, April did as he told her, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging her legs as close as she could over his shell.

You sure you can do it? Without your Tegaki, scaling up the walls is going to be a challenge.

'Who says that I'm going climb up the walls?'

Slowly, with his plastron against the wall, hugging the surface the best he could, moved to his left. April, hanging on tightly to her friend, made sure to not look down behind her or move a single muscle.

It took the humanoid-wolf/turtle nearly two minutes to move alongside the ledge before finding their path cut off, but wasted no time to scale up the emergency fire exit to the top of the roof. Once they were at the top, Leo got to his knees, signaling the girl to get off.

She was confused.

"Why are we stopping, Leo?" She asked, getting off in the process.

"So long as your father is still out there, we can't leave this area. If we did, he would go on a rampage and harm innocent citizens while searching for us. To make matters worse, he's a Vampire Bat."

April gave him an odd look.

"You're kidding. Right?" She asked, earning a blank look from the blue-masked turtle as her answer. "…You're actually serious?"

"There are actual bats called 'Vampire Bats', April. Because, like vampires, they find hosts and drink their blood for nutrients. And while it's very rare, I was told that they'll even drink blood from humans and some of those human succumb to death from the rabies the bats carried. -Her face went pale from the information, subconsciously placing both hands over her neck.- Whatever the reason to why he didn't drink our blood and is willingly caring for us, is still a big mystery. Until he's caught, we're gonna have to wait for a while. However, in the meantime, we can contact the others through your T-Phone."

Immediately, she pulled out her T-Phone and, without given any instructions on what to say, she sent a group text to Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo:

Guys! Where r u? Le all right. Dad took us to my house, n r now on top of the roof. Leo wants to knw if u came up with a plan on how to get my dad.

In sixteen seconds, she gotten a response by Raph, Don and Mikey:

April! Thank God, you're okay! Tell Leo that I'm glad he's okay, since he left his T-Phone behind with his gear.- Don

Hey, April! Did u n Leo stopped 4 Pizza? Plz tell me u got Pizza!- Mikey

Ape! Good to hear you're both ok. Can u whack Leo for me, for giving us heart attacks when jumping out of the ship with the robotic King Kong body n leaving his weapons behind? Thx!- Raph

With both of them reading the message, Leo chuckled at the response they got from his brothers.

"April, tell them that now is not the time for nonsense chitchat and to tell us if they came up with a plan to catch your dad?"

The sixteen year-old did as he requested, typing away his message to the others in the group text... A minute later, she's gotten a reply.

We've asked Sensei for some advice on how to catch a stray pet. We didn't tell him about Kirby being turned, but he knows something is up and is asking where Leo is. We were able to get Leo's gear to his bedroom without Master Splinter noticing and told him that he's with you, April. He suggested on using food to lure your father to us. So, we're going to disguise Mikey as a fly and, when Mr. O'Neil's in close range, we'll trap him at the Patty Man's Meat Warehouse. We'll meet you guys there!- Don

After rereading the message three times, making sure he didn't miss what Donatello was telling them... Leonardo face-palmed himself, groaning.

"You've got to be kidding me," he grumbled.

April was confused by his reaction.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with their plan?" She asked, resting a hand on the arm that rested on his forehead.

He sent a tired glare at her direction.

"They're going to use Mikey, as bait."

He response was very puzzling to the girl.

"Are you worried about Mikey?" While she, too, is concern for the orange-masked turtle's well being of being bait to draw her dad out, she didn't see what was troubling the blue-masked turtle.

"I know he can handle himself… It's what Raph and Don has decided to do, is the problem. -Her confused look told him she didn't get what was wrong, so he cut straight to the point.- They're making him wear a fly costume. He's going to use his imagination, and think he's now going to be a superhero… Meaning, he's going to be goofing off and pasteurize the guys with whatever catchphrase he'll use for his costume."

"…Well... It can't be that bad... Can it?" She asked, hoping that Michelangelo's childish antics won't be as bad as Leo makes it sound.

She received a text a minute later... She gotten her answer.

April, Leo, guess what? I'm no longer Michelangelo… I'm the great, the awesome turtle-fly hero: Turflytle! Buzz, Buzz! ;)- Mikey

The two stared at one another… Then, both, face-palmed themselves to the text.

---

Five Minutes Later…
The two hadn't gotten word since Mikey's text. No doubt, they already geared up and are in the air, looking for Kirby. With that in thought, and that Leo told them not to take their T-Phones when in the air, April put away her T-Phone.

as the two waited for any sign of the guys, a thought came to April's mind. she turned to the blue-masked turtle, who stood on the edge of the rooftop, looking at the sky.

"Hey, Leo?" Her question earned her a glance from the turtle. "Back at the rooftop, where you took off your gear and and laying on the ground, while my dad tower over you... What was that about? It was like how dogs interact with their owners."

Leonardo sent a smile at her direction, before he got off the ledge and came to her.

"I was trying to show your father that I'm not a threat and, in a way, to have him accept me as a member of his Colony."

"'Colony'?"

Leo nodded his head to get question.

"Much like rats, a group of bats is referred to as a colony. And such, they are very territorial and will attack whoever they see as a threat, especially to their young... Well, so long as they can take on the enemy, that is. And with your father mutated into a giant humanoid-bat, he could have easily killed me without any hesitation if he had seen me as a threat to you. So, rather than fight him, I chose to be worthy in his eyes as a member of his colony and that I pose no threat to either of you two."

His answer made sense to the girl, though there was one thing that still puzzled her.

"But what was with you rubbing against my dad's arm?"

Her question were starting to drain him, but is able to not reveal his frustration to her curiosity of his actions.

Clearly, Upsilon-Sister not very knowledgeable about the ways of Earth Young.

'Obviously...' "Many animals are more accepting and calm when you carry the same scent as they do. I was merely increasing my chance of your dad to welcome me, by getting some of his scent onto me."

She can sense that he was getting a bit annoyed by her questions and that he answered what was bothering her, she let any other questions she had about animal behaviors get pushed in the back of her mind.

Seeing that she seem to grasp on to how he was interacting with her father, Leo and April went back to the ledge of the rooftop, scouting the sky for any signs of his brothers or Kirby.

---

Eleven Minutes Later...
"...Anything, yet?" April asked, not really having any fun on waiting on the rooftop while worrying for her friends encountering her father, who could either eat them, kill them or both.

Leonardo, also, wasn't too thrilled on having to wait. Even the birds he sent out to keep an eye out for his brothers haven't returned with any news at all. He was getting restless on having to wait.

"...Still nothing," he answered. 'What's taking them so long? I told them that this was a life or death situation, that it can't be ignored or forgotten.'

Do you really think it was a good idea to send out the pigeons to look for your brothers? There's a chance that Kirby could've encountered them and ate them.

'I gave them specific orders to fly below building level and to stay within the bright parts of the city, since the lights should prevent Kirby from reaching them. The mutagen may have enhanced his senses, but his eyes should have some sensitivity to bright lights.'

Still, you should know how, at times, unreliable they could be for scouting.

Truth. Rodent Flyers more usable as distractions, not locate or retrieval.

'Perhaps... But they're also known for spreading words faster throughout the city. And when other birds and/or animals hear what they say, words will pass through the grapevine.'

Not long after he thought that, a yowling from a cat from across the building caught his attention.

"Moon Scar!"

It was an American Shorthair cat, calling out from the perch of his home's window, though the feline was slightly panting as if he just got home from a massive run. Even at a far distance, Leo can see parts of his body puffed out and eyes dilated. The cat showed clear signs of distress.

"Your Kins are coming! They're bringing that creature near here! Get ready!"

The cat's words made Leo's adrenaline start to kick in, looking back up to the sky.

April felt Leo's demeanor instantly change, coming up beside him to see what he's seeing.

"Do you see them?" She asked, her hammering when thinking she would be seeing the other three turtles with her dad.

His eyes narrowed, looking hard at the dark-sky to see any signs of his three brothers and a large, humanoid-bat... His Cerulean/Sapphire-eyes caught a sight he was horrified to see: There, coming in from the east, Donatello riding on top of Kirby O'Neil, trying to stay on him, while Raphael and Michelangelo, wearing a pair of cardboard wings to look like wings from a fly and a pair of goggles looking like fly-eyes with a toy headband for antenna, staying close from above but at a far enough distance should Kirby try to make another attempt to get Mikey.

"Guys!" April called out, waving her arms out to get their attention. "We're over here!"

While she tries getting their attention, Leonardo looked up and saw what looks to be Donatello's Turtle Glider coming down towards them. With the rushing wind and fans still on, it didn't spiral out of control and made a beeline down to the two teenagers.

"Look out!" He cried out, pulling her back just before the glider made impact to the ground.

Surprisingly, the glider didn't break nor bend and the handlebar prevented the glider from slamming to the ground. It was still intact, and still usable to get into the air.

You're not serious, are you?! He'll turn on you!

'It's a risk I'm gonna have to take.'

Quickly, he hooked the Turtle Glider to himself, standing on the ledge and getting ready to fly.

"Wait, Leo!"

April get to him and, to his surprise, hopped on to his shell.

Surprised, he let out a yelp.

"April, what-?"

"I'm not going to be left behind, when that's my dad up there!" She argued, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Besides, if I go with you, he should follow us to the Warehouse."

His eyes widened to her reason to go with them… And, quite frankly, he was very much amazed to her bravery and willingness to put herself in danger to help trap her dad.

You know there's no talking sense to her, once she has her mind set on something.

Upsilon-Sister has right to be involved; Omicron-Uncle her Sire. He still hers... He still raise, provides for Upsilon-Sister. Omicron-Uncle will follow, for welfare of own pup.

He let out a sigh of defeat, before grabbing for the handlebar.

"Hang on." With barely a second to make sure her hold on the fifteen year-old will stay firm, the blue-masked turtle jumped off the rooftop.

...And the two took off in the air, heading for the struggling bat trying to get Don off his back by biting at him.

Luckily for the purple-masked turtle, he used his Naginata Bō staff to get into Kirby's mouth and continued to get control of the humanoid-bat by using his weapon as reign to steer Kirby towards the direction of the Warehouse.

From above, Raphael and Michelangelo tossed out their own grappling hooks to Kirby's wings, restricting him from going anywhere but to the direction they want him to go to... Only to realize that, because of his enhanced strength, the two ended up being pulled down and slammed into each other. In the process, Raphael's Turtle Glider unhooked itself from the massive force one of Kirby's wing used to pull him out of the straps.

As for Michelangelo, because of his cardboard wings for taking up room on his shell and being much heavy for his own Turtle Glider to fit or lift, was only able to detach himself from the rope connecting him to Raph and glide for a short moment of time until his weight would've pulled him back to the ground if he didn't use his grappling hook to grab Kirby.

On Kirby's left, Raphael ended up ramming against a brick wall of a few apartment buildings, followed by a cat that was sleeping on a fire escape ladder, which was able to avoid getting spooked up annoying out of yowl when seeing the giant humanoid-bat. To his right, Michelangelo slammed against a billboard and almost hit a chimney.

From above them, Leonardo and April quickly caught up to them. well in the air, Leo was able to guide her hands to grab hold of the handlebar, making it easier for her to stay on.

"Are you ready for this, April?" The humanoid-wolf/turtle asked the sixteen year-old girl, keeping his eyes completely on the struggling humanoid-bat.

"No... But, we need to do this." she answered honestly, gripping tightly to the handlebar, readying herself for whatever Leo is going to do.

Gaining permission to go on with this plan, Leonardo thrust down, basically dive-bombing towards Kirby, and slamming against his right-side.

"Aaugh! Aawh, aaaah!" He attempted to make similar calls that Kirby made, which surprisingly sounded almost exactly like the cries her father makes, excluding the continuous screeching and adding in some clicking sounds in the process. Nevertheless, Leo's imitation of Kirby's call caught the humanoid-bat's attention.

"Come on, Dad! This way!" April called out, motioning him to follow when he saw the both of them flying straight to a direction.

*Scrreeeech!* *Scrrrrreeeeech!*

Kirby immediately pushed himself to follow the two, letting out cries of distress and making grabbing motions with both hands in an attempt to get the two pups.

If Don, Raph and Mikey weren't having enough trouble to control him, they were having much more difficulty on holding on, as the concern mutant father pushed himself to follow their brother and human-friend. Not realizing he's being lead to a trap, waiting for him.

After twenty seconds of flying, avoiding the attempted capture of the humanoid-bat and continuous cries of surprise, pain and some panic, they can all see the rooftop to Patty Man's Meat Warehouse coming in.

Alright. You made it. But how are you going to get him inside?

That, Leonardo already knew what he has to do. He sent a glance to April.

"April, brace yourself!" He yelled, giving her little time to realize what he's going to do, before dive-bombing down straight through the glass.

As he expected to happen, Kirby dived down after them. A few shards of glass dug into his arms, but not too deep that he would require stitching and none reached the girl, thanks to the wings of the Turtle Glider and Leo's body shielding her from all sides... What he didn't count on, when they neared the ground, Kirby was finally able to make a grab for the two, wrapping them within the fold of his winged hands and his own arms, before hitting the ground and skidding to the back of the warehouse.

…Surprisingly, they stopped underneath the cage.

As Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo immediately picked themselves off the ground, in his haste on trying to capture him, Mikey went for the lever to have the cage brought down.

Thanks to his hearing picking up the sound of rope scratching and looking up to see a giant cage coming down on them... Kirby O'Neil threw his daughter and pseudo-nephew away from him, sparing them from being caged before the cage trapped him in his spot. Though, while relieved that he saved two of his pups from this fate, even those thoughts weren't enough to calm him when pounding at the cage with his winged hands.

After Leo helped her to her feet, April immediately went to her father.

"Dad! -She leaned in front of his direction, gazing down at his scared and distressed face, as shock and disbelief ran through her thought.- Dad." Reaching through the bars, she laid her right-hand onto his forehead.

In response, he made a low, chittering sound. He calmed down, for the time being, though was very nervous and anxious within the cage that kept him trapped.

Coming to her side, Leonardo rested his left-hand beside her head, earning the same treatment the girl gained.

"We're sorry, Kirby." He whispered, showing great despair on having to trap his pseudo-uncle by using his paternal instinct against him.

When her father finally calmed down, April got to her feet and turned to the guys.

"What are we gonna do with him? I mean, keep him caged forever? Feed him a steady diet of mice and flies?"

"Actually, bats love moths and spiders too, so…" Donatello, having to bring up his knowledge, didn't help make the situation any better. Beside him, Raphael jabbed his elbow against his plastron. "Sorry…"

Rather she heard him and is taking it much harder, or just ignored what he just said, April didn't seem to take his word to heart. Too trapped in her grief of her father ended up being mutated into a humanoid-bat.

"This is all my fault. If I hadn't lied to Dad…"

Leonardo knew that he couldn't let her think that. Not when he had a part in it. He got to his feet, turning to her.

"No, April. It's not your fault. It's mine. -He earned a stunned glance at the girl, along with some surprised looks from his brothers.- If I hadn't suggested on involving your dad, he wouldn't had been turned… There's no one to blame, but me."

Tears formed in her eyes, not believing what her friend, her brother, is telling her. She didn't say anything, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his neck. In response, he returned the embrace, trying to offer her as much comfort that he could.

Coming up to her left, Mikey laid a hand on her back.

"Leo's right, April." He said, gaining her attention but still remained in his embrace. "Don't blame yourself. It was our fault. We spilled the mutagen. We'll fix it."

His sentence made the guilt from Leo's being fade away, replacing it with confusion... And a rising feeling of rage.

'…What did he just say?'

What did he mean they spilled the mutagen?!

…Kins... Had role to Omicron-Uncle's transformation?

"What? You guys... You guys spilled the mutagen?!" April asked, not believing what she just heard.

From behind her and Leo, Raph and Don silently sent hand signals for Mikey to not tell her. Sadly, the youngest-turtle isn't well good at reading signals when he has to.

"Yeah. We accidentally unleashed all that mutagen all over the city, but don't worry. We'll get it back."

The anger within Leo rose almost instantly from what he just learned from the orange-masked turtle.

"You… You…"

In disbelief, April pushed back from Mikey's touch. Unintentionally, in the process, ended up being released from Leo's hug.

Just as much as she was getting angry, Leonardo also showed signs of great anger towards his brothers.

"You three let all the mutagen fall out?! -He turned his angry glare at Donatello, he flinched from the burning rage held within his brother's Cerulean/Sapphire-eyes.- Don! I told you to close that door, to prevent this sort of disaster from happening! Why did you ignore my orders?!"

From behind him and April, Kirby, sensing the two teenagers getting angry, also started to get angry and let out a screech at the three teens for causing such distress to his two pups.

"I'm sorry, Leo! I-! -Cutting himself off, without bothering to giving any explanation for his decision to not closing the door, he turned to a very distraught April.- April. I swear by Darwin's beard, we'll cure him."

His word meant nothing to the girl. She couldn't believe what she found out, grasping both her hands to her chest... Before exploding at the three turtles.

"You mutated my father!"

To her anger, Kirby let out another terrifying shriek of anger.

*SCRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEECH!*

In the state of his anger, his adrenaline kicked in. His winged hands grabbed a hold of the roofing of the cage and, with sheer strength, pulled the bars apart. With the gap big enough for him to get out, he immediately took to the air.

Now freed, he made a few attempts to swat at the three enemies with his claws. When that didn't work, his eyes locked on to April and reached for her with his feet.

Taking resident next to one of the support beams, Leonardo watches the event play on… Then, watch as Donatello pull out Gonnosuke.

"Don! Don't!" His cry fell on deaf ears and the Bō wielding turtle smack Kirby O'Neil away from his daughter. Feeling great pain from the attack and too exhausted to keep fighting, despite his desperation to grab the two pups, Kirby was left with no choice but to escape the Warehouse.

"Dad!" April cried out, watching as her mutated father leaves her... For the second time.

Once the crisis was over, Donatello went behind her. Attempting to rest a hand on her shoulder.

"April-"

Barely laying a hand on her, April went ballistic.

"Don't!" She yelled, swatting his hand away from her. "Don't touch me! You keep away from me! -Her eyes glared at the three turtles who caused her father's mutation to happen, while sending a side glance at Leo's way, though her gaze didn't show any disgust or hatred towards him.- I never wanna see your faces, ever again!"

With that being said, she made a mad dash out of the warehouse.

"April!" Donnie called out, making an attempt to run after her, only to be stopped by Raphael.

"Let her go, man." The red-masked turtle told him, knowing his brother would only make things worse if he went after her.

"But-!"

"No, Don!" Leo snarled at him, cutting him off. "You've done enough damage, for one night! Leave her be!"

As his leader ordered him to do, Donatello didn't go off after the redheaded girl.

While feeling his twin has every right to be angry at them, Raph tried to explain himself.

"It really was an accident, Leo. We-"

"Save it, Raph!"

The humanoid-wolf/turtle didn't want to hear it. Not now. Not when his brothers' actions not only turned Kirby into a humanoid-bat, but also spread the mutagen over a certain part of the city.

'I can't believe they would be irresponsible, as to let this happen!'

Kins' mistakes, will cause great consequences... Kins can't be forgiven... Not till all mutagen are collected, and away from All-Life!

…No excuses... They have to learn...

"…Come! We're going home… Now! -Without a single word, the three started making their way out of the warehouse.- And when we get home, you three are going to tell Sensei what happened!"

The three weren't looking forward to that... But they knew that they would have to face the music, sooner or later.

---

At the Lair…
As Donatello finished telling Splinter what has happened, the humanoid-rat's face was riddled with great sorrow.

"This is all very grave news. Very grave, indeed."

His eyes held such sadness on what had happened to April's father; he enjoyed interacting with another human, after so many years being isolated within the sewers. And having to get to know Kirby O'Neil, Splinter found a form a kinship with the human-father... Something that was taken and destroyed, when Oroku Saki trampled their brotherhood and killed Tang Shen.

"I can't believe this is happening. Poor April."

From behind the guys, leaning against the wall next to the turnstiles, Leonardo kept his glare on his three brothers.

'Feeling sorry won't fix what you've done, Donnie.'

On his left-shoulder, Karasu sent a glare of her own to her three older-brothers. After hearing what the guys had done and learning that April won't be coming down to the Lair anymore, she, too, wasn't in such a forgiving mood.

"Do not dwell on the past. -While his words seemed calm and comforting, his face showed great worry for the surface world.- Right now, you must focus on finding every last canister of mutagen. You must search every street, every park and playground, every building and rooftop, before we have even more mutants on our hands."

While he was giving them an order on what they must do, Leonardo's T-Phone vibrated. Pulling it out, the blue-masked turtle turn on the screen.

…His eyes widened at what popped up on his phone.

---

*Knock knock knock*

He didn't have to wait for five seconds, before the window opened up. There, with bloodshot eyes and tearstained face, April O'Neil stood before the turtle and raven/crow-hybrid. After allowing him a moment to come into her bedroom, she threw herself onto him, sobbing into his shoulder.

Leo didn't say anything, as he once again embraced her. On his shoulder, Karasu let out chirps of distress on witnessing how distressed the human-girl was.

As the sixteen year-old continued to cry, the black-bird walked down Leo's left-shoulder and got onto April's, nuzzling her head against the girl's cheek, offering her as much comfort as she could to the human.

When her crying continued on for over seven minutes, Leonardo gently urged her to sit down and rest her back against her bed, going down with her when she refuses to let him go. And he had no intention on releasing her, not in her hour of need.

He laid his head on top of hers, gently rubbing her back.

"I know it doesn't mean much and it won't bring him back… I'm really sorry about your dad, April." He whispered, slowly rocking her back and forth.

The crying continued on going for quite some time, but eventually, it went down to sniffling.

*Sniffle sniff*

In over a minute, she quieted down. She remained still in his embrace, resting her cheek on his plastron, as Karasu stayed still on her left-shoulder.

"…It's not your fault." She whispered, her voice cracked from her crying.

Leo was stunned to hear what she just said.

"April-"

"No. -She raised her head to stare up at him, a serious look held in her sky-blue eyes.- You weren't there when they let the mutagen fall into the city. You were falling out of the ship, fighting that robotic gorilla-body. You told Donnie to shut the door, which he didn't do…!"

Tears started to pick up, again. Karasu gently ran her beak against her cheek, wiping them away for her, as Leo sat them up.

"April, breathe." He coaxed, making her follow his deep inhalation and then exhaling to help get her to calm down. "I know this is still very upsetting, but you'll make yourself sick if this keeps up. You need to calm down."

She did as she was instructed to do, following his example of breathing, as her racing heart slowly but steadily went back to it's normal paste. After two minutes of breathing, she finally calmed down. Soon, she realized how much of a headache she had from crying and tired she was feeling.

But still, after all that, she still wanted Leo to hear what she has to say.

"You didn't cause the mutagen to spill, Leo... You weren't of any part of it, at all. -She leaned back into his hold, feeling safe and content within the hold of the one she still views as her brother- You're my only friend, now."

Unknowingly to the girl, Leonardo's eyes widened to her words. The exact words he heard from in his vision... He finally understood what the vision was trying to warn him.

And because of the carelessness of his brothers and their action, they ended up losing their losing Kirby O'Neil to the mutation… And, their sister.

TBC

---

Yep. First chapter to the Second Season, not very happy or heartwarming, like in the show.

*: For a Peach Tree, it sure didn't follow true to it's name for it's lack of 'peaches'. It looks more like a giant bonsai tree.

*:…Okay. When I saw that… It's was, somewhat, disturbing. Even a bit inappropriate, in my opinion, that weapons would come out from the Biotroid's nipples... Did anybody else thought that, too? Seriously, what were the makers of the show, thinking?!

*:…I'm positively certain, that they got this idea from Astro Boy.

*: The Omicron is usually the lead Pi and oversee to it that each one is taking care of the rest of the packs problems in a way that won't harm anyone. They are those who with permission from the Alpha may choose who will become a Pi. (Top Therapist)

I went to an Anime-Con in Fresno on Saint Patricks Day… It. Was. AWESOME! I'm hoping to go to the DBZ and Heroes Con on May 11th, since my experience at my first Convention at Anime-Con was amazing.

R&R