- Chapter 103 -

Ninpō Knowhow

The day after Hisako's Discovery Day party, the Hamato Clan assembled at the Canal Street brownstone to discuss the Hamato/Lee siblings' experiences in the Hidden City. Leftover pizza was strewn about the table with Midnight munching on her own piece. For some reason, Agent 64 was still with them, sitting next to Midnight with his own pizza slice. The yōkai's presence made their story more believable.

"So, who exactly was that old lady yōkai Sam and Casey said you were with?" April asked Hisako. "You said she knew your birth parents, but not much else."

Hisako shrugged. "She didn't give me her name. I just took to calling her Granny."

"Names are powerful when it comes to yōkai," Seiko mused. "She may have been one such yokai that has to guard their name."

"Either way, she was super sweet," Hisako smiled. "Saw how frazzled I was and helped me out."

"What really gets me is what Splinter and Kasumi said when you guys got back," Jade remarked. "Our clan had dealings with yōkai back in the day? And Splinter had a key to this city all along?"

"Not just Yoshi," Yukio cut in.

One by one, all of the adults revealed similar pendants, all in different forms of jewelry.

"Just... why?" Kagome questioned. "When did this start?"

"Our connection to mystic power dates back to the clan's founding," Asuka explained. "During the time Hamato Koji dueled Koga Takuza for the Sword of Tengu."

At the Hamato/Lee siblings' looks, she blinked. "You... don't know about Hamato Ninpō?"

"Is that some kind of secret family recipe?" Mikey asked.

"No," Asuka shook her head. "The Ninpō are the Hamato Clan's greatest traditional arts. One of the mightiest sources of mystic power in this world."

"Whoa…" The Hamato/Lee siblings let out simultaneously.

"How come we've never heard of it before?"

Splinter rubbed the back of his neck. "I... did not have the proper discipline to complete my training in it at the time."

Mikey perked. "Wait, what? You didn't have the discipline, Dad?"

"We weren't born disciplined, collected ninja masters, Michelangelo," Kasumi reminded him. "Even we struggled in aspects of our training."

"And what about the rest of you?" Kagome asked.

"Out of everyone here, I have the greatest control of my Ninpō," Asuka said. "I devoted quite a bit of my time to studying it, especially after Saki's coup."

"So that wind thing you showed us…" Hisako began.

"That is the form my Ninpō takes. It is unique for everyone. There is some commonality, however. Many of the clan's more advanced techniques. The Sato-oshi strike, the Healing Hand... all have roots in Hamato Ninpō."

"What exactly does Hamato Ninpō do?" Tai asked.

"It puts you in touch with the collective spiritual power of the Hamato Clan, living and deceased alike. Your family bonds fuel and strengthen it. Once you learn this potential, the clan is with you, in life and even beyond."

Hana perked. "Of course... Anata wa hitori ja nai. That's where it comes from."

"Wow…" Hisako let out.

Mikey raised a hand. "Um.. quick question. Would it work for us?"

"True," Donnie mused. "Karai is the only blood Hamato. Not to mention Kagome. But what about us?"

"You guys do have Dad's DNA," Hisako pointed out. "I'm the only fully non-Hamato."

Asuka chuckled. "Being a Hamato is more than just blood. The ninpō draws from family bonds, not genetics."

"Indeed," Splinter confirmed. "All of you have the potential to use the Hamato Ninpō, and with your introduction to the world of the yokai, Kasumi and I feel it is best you learn."

Jade perked. "Hang on a sec... it puts us in touch with dead members of the Hamato Clan, right?" She gets up, grabbing Asuka's shoulders. "That includes Sumi, right?!"

"Indeed," Asuka gently freed herself from Jade's grip. "All those who have tapped into the Ninpō can offer their guidance to those who seek it, including Sumiko…" She sent a knowing glance Splinter's way, "and Tang Shen."

That caught everyone off-guard.

"M… Mom?" Karai let out. "She knew it too?"

"Yes," Asuka confirmed. "She was a healer. She could channel her Ninpō into others, healing not only their bodies but their spirits."

"Indeed," Splinter smiled wistfully. "One of the reasons we got as close as we did was because she would heal me whenever I was foolish enough to get hurt."

"Which was often," Kasumi said flatly.

"Oh yes," Yukio recalled. "You always were the more reckless out of all of us."

Kasumi turned to him. "Reckless? You didn't see him purposely climb higher in a tree before jumping."

"As I said, reckless." Splinter turned away, a bit of color peeking through his fur as everyone laughed.

"Anyway, back on track," Leo said. "Count me in. I'm always game to learn more of the Hamato Clan's arts."

"I'm in," Raph agreed.

"A chance to learn magic?" Vee grinned. "Do you even have to ask?!"

"So we'll be able to do cool stuff like Asuka and Hisako?" Mikey bounced excitedly. "AWESOME!"

"Magic, used by a man of science…" Donnie shrugged. "Well, what do I have to lose?"

Leo turned to Hisako. "What about you, sis?"

"Me?" Hisako perked. "Um… I don't know… My powers are already out there. I'm worried about what my Ninpō would do."

"Hey," Leo put an arm around her. "It'll be fine. And if anything, this will be good for you. A way to help you fully connect to the family."

"Do it! Do it! Do it!" Mikey cheered.

Eventually, Hisako caved. "Alright, alright! You win."

"I'm in as well," Kagome decided.

Karai nodded. "No way I'm missing out on this."

"Excellent," Asuka smiled. "Perhaps you should join in as well, Yoshi."

Splinter stroked his chin. "Yes… perhaps it is time I connect with the mystic side of the clan."

"Dad's gonna be a student alongside us?" Mikey grinned. "Awesome!"

-X-

With that done, Asuka led everyone down to the dojo, which took up the majority of the brownstone's basement floor.

"Whoa…" Leo let out.

"Man, you guys remodeled after the invasion," Raph mused.

"The place got pretty banged up," Asuka replied. "We saw it as an opportunity."

"So... how does this work?" Vee asked. "What do we do?"

"The key to Hamato Ninpō is to put your whole trust in your family. Your connection."

"I get the feeling it's not that simple," Donnie remarked.

"Nothing worthwhile ever is."

Yukio brought out a jewelry box, blowing dust off of it before opening it to reveal several medallions similar to the adults'.

"For beginners, having a focus is essential," he said.

"The medallions act as more than keys to the Hidden City," Asuka added. "They will help you focus your mystic power, control it."

All of them took one, sliding them on.

"I don't feel any different," Donnie remarked.

"They act as a focus for your power, not the source," Asuka clarified. "That's up to you."

"But how?" Donnie demanded. "This makes no sense!"

"Does it have to be a necklace?" Raph asked.

Asuka gave them a blank look. "Do you want to learn the Ninpō or not?"

Raph sighed. "I'll take the necklace."

"Now, just stop asking questions and follow the lesson," Asuka looked right at Donnie before going on. "That goes double for you, Donatello. Analyzing mystic power scientifically and logically will only make learning it harder. You must learn to accept there are powers in this world greater than your understanding."

"Yeah," Vee agreed. "I mean, we fought Dracula. And Ho Chan. And that Complete Carnage guy. And there's that weird dog thing."

"Oh, that reminds me," Mikey said. "We should totally give that guy a name. Right now, all he has is a number."

Kagome knelt down to Agent 64. "Whatever name he gives you, just go with it. It's what he does."

64 barked at that.

"He actually likes the idea of a real name," Hisako translated. "Names are apparently a big deal for his kind."

"I actually have a name," April chimed in. "If you don't mind, Mikey."

Mikey shrugged. "Well, let's hear it first."

"Well... how about Mayhem?"

64 barked excitedly, running around in a circle before jumping into April's lap.

"Well, he seems to like it," Mikey mused.

Hisako blinked. "Umm... what do you mean 'contract accepted'?"

"I think I got it," Vee realized. "By naming him, April's formed a mystic contract. Mayhem here is now her magic familiar."

Mayhem barked once more.

"At least that explains the number from before," April mused. "Not a name, so no contract."

Asuka cleared her throat at that.

"Right, back to business," Kagome turned to Asuka. "So, you said we access the ninpō by putting our trust in our family. So... is this gonna be something like a trust exercise? One of us falls back and the other catches them?"

Asuka nodded. "It's a start."

"Well, when in Rome," Vee decided. "Who first?"

Elsewhere, in a secluded area, a sinister meeting was taking place between a human and a yokai. Said yōkai had long straight maroon hair, bright orange sclerae, teal cloven hooves, and a large, muscular figure. He wore a dark teal bodysuit (with a black collar and legs) with teal spots on his sleeves, a breastplate and a large black and teal belt with gold trim and a dark teal loincloth, spiked gauntlets with gold trim, and a gold mask with a turquoise face panel and a pair of gold horns with geometric engravings on them. The human was seated behind a desk, obscured by shadows.

"I'm surprised you came to me," the human remarked. "You've made your disdain for my kind quite clear."

"We have similar interests at the moment," the yōkai replied. "It's official, doctor. General Krang is stranded in Dimension X. He's finished. But as they say, nature abhors a vacuum."

"Indeed. And you, my friend, are just the being to fill that void. All you need is the recipe."

"Which is the only reason I am willing to agree to your offer of an alliance."

"I can acquire all of the ingredients from the city. However, two elude me; the milk of a Kraathatragon and Empyrean."

"Fortunately for you, the Hidden City has those in abundance."

The figure smiled. "Well then, where do we start?"

Meanwhile…

"You're not gonna drop me, are you, Raph?" Mikey asked.

"Of course not. Let's go already, man."

Mikey closed his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest before slowly falling backward… and falling to the ground.

"I knew it! I knew you'd drop me!"

"You trusted that I would drop you," Raph retorted.

"Will you please take this seriously?" Asuka demanded.

"Oh come on, he was asking for it!" Raph shot back. "And I'm not the only one."

He gestured at Leo, who was panicking as he attempted to catch Splinter. When his father fell, he didn't have a good grip and they both fell. Kagome, attempting to do the same with her mom, buckled under the weight.

"Yes, but they're actually making an effort. You didn't even bother to try to catch Michelangelo."

Raph shrugged. "I would have if he hadn't egged me on."

Asuka sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Raphael, are you always this difficult? You're seventeen, not seven! Stop giving into taunts like that and act like an adult!"

Raph took a breath to retort, only to realize he had nothing to say to that and turn away.

"Now, let's try this again."

"Actually, can we take a break?" Donnie questioned. "All this falling is giving me whiplash."

"Very well. We'll resume later."

Everyone groaned in relief, making their way out of the basement. With that, Asuka sighed, sitting down.

"I forgot how difficult teenagers could be to teach."

"Try raising six," Splinter said dryly.

Putting on their usual disguises, the Hamato/Lee siblings, alongside April and Casey, made their way back down to the Hidden City, landing together in the bamboo forest.

"We sure this is a good idea?" Hisako asked.

"As long as we keep our heads down and don't make a scene," Leo replied.

"Our track record with that isn't the best," Kagome pointed out.

"Yeah, for ninjas, we suck at laying low," Mikey added.

Leo just shrugged as they made their way into the city proper. As they stepped in, all of them kept their hoods up.

"So…" Casey began, "where first?"

Raph shrugged. "No idea."

"Well, I'd like to check on the Crying Titan," Hisako said. "See if I was right about something."

Mikey shrugged. "Eh, why not?"

They headed for the statue in the middle of the square. Without the threat of Big Mama, the others properly took in the sight of it.

"Well... I'd hate to ask for tap water in this town," Vee deadpanned. "That water is-"

"Not water," Hisako cut in.

Donnie took a closer look, taking in the neon green, glowing fluid streaming from the statue's eyes. "No way…"

"Don't touch it," Hisako warned. "It's Empyrean. A key ingredient to mutagen."

That got their attention.

"These yōkai have an entire fountain of mutagen in the middle of their city?!" April exclaimed.

"Not mutagen," Hisako clarified. "Just a component, and a crucial one. Probably one of many reasons Krang needed Earth. The Empyrean is rich with mystic power. When combined with Kraathatrogon milk, you get the ooze."

"Well, there's also a cocktail of other chemicals, but basically-" Donnie was cut off by an elbow from Hisako.

"We get it," she said flatly.

-X-

Unbeknownst to the group, they were being watched. On a nearby building, two black, red-eyed gargoyles spied on the Hamato/Lee family. Sharing a look, the gargoyles nodded before flying off, heading for an ominous circular building with torches lit by blue flames. They flew through the chimney and rejoined Draxum.

"Hey Boss!" one exclaimed.

"Boss, boss, boss!" the other let out.

"What?!" Draxum spun around from his worktable, which contained a canister of mutagen and a unit filled with mosquitoes. "Can't you two see I'm busy?"

"You know those creatures the human warned us about?" one gargoyle asked. "The mutant turtles and their little human-looking friends? They're here!"

That got Draxum's attention. "Are they now?"

"They're at the fountain," the second gargoyle said. "All of them."

"We should go say hi!"

Draxum smirked. "Indeed. I do owe them a thank you for putting an end to Krang. Perhaps we should extend them an invitation."

As the gargoyles settled on his shoulders, he headed out of his lab.

Meanwhile, the family decided to go and get some food. They sat down at a cafe, waiting for their orders.

"Man…" Kagome sighed. "Trying to learn the Ninpō kicked our butts."

"It would've gone better if…" Mikey shot a glare at Raph, "Some people could actually do the trust exercise and not drop the other person on their head."

Raph scoffed. "Oh come on. You were totally asking for it. How could I say no?"

"How about by actually following Asuka's instructions and doing the exercise? I mean c'mon, bro. You should know better by now than to let yourself get egged on by me."

"He's not wrong," Vee pointed out. "I mean, how can we trust each other if you pull stuff like that?"

Hisako scoffed. "Honestly, those trust exercises are beyond stupid. I never understood them."

"Well, Asuka said the key to accessing the Ninpō is connecting and trusting in one's family," Karai recalled.

"Seems a bit redundant for us," Casey mused.

"It's not," Karai replied. "Family doesn't automatically mean trust. Trust needs to be built and earned. And it's a fragile thing."

At that moment, a multi-armed yokai waiter arrived, carrying several plates. Various sandwiches, soups, and dishes were laid out. Most looked normal, save for Mikeys, which was a moving pile of purple spaghetti. Everyone looked at it in surprise.

"Uh…" Kagome began, "Is that thing moving?"

Mikey blinked. "Um… This is not what I ordered. Sir, that's not what-"

"Illuriam noodles. My favorite."

They perked, turning to see Draxum approach. One look at him, and they were on edge.

"Oh, great," Raph sighed. "Big Mama send you?"

Draxum scoffed.

"As if I would ever stoop to working with that bloated arachnid," He looked the Turtles up and down. "Such perfect mutations. I'll give credit where it's due; General Krang has done wonders with my work."

He plucked one of the noodles from Mikey's plate, slurping it down

Vee blinked. "Wait... your work? Who the hell are you?"

"Of course, how rude of me," Draxum bowed. "I am Baron Draxum. Famed alchemist of the Hidden Cities, protector of all mutant-kind."

"You worked with Krang?" Hisako asked.

"Not quite. I had been experimenting with Empyrean for many centuries, working on its properties. Finding out how to make it work to its fullest potential. And when Krang, the so-called Tetsu-Oni, showed up with a means to help bring it out, I took the chance… only to be betrayed, and my hard work stolen from me." Draxum clenched his fists in anger. "He and his ilk made their way to the surface, with their little megacorp... while I and my fellow yokai were forced underground. Hiding in the shadows. Being erased from history."

Both of his gargoyles put on the waterworks, pulling a hanky from somewhere.

"What a travesty!" one wept as the other blew his nose loudly.

"For shame!"

"I know all about you turtles and your friends," Draxum went on. "The ones who finally gave Krang exactly what he deserved. In that regard, I should thank you. You did me a favor."

"Thanks…" Leo let out as they all exchanged looks. "So... is there a reason for this visit?"

"I was hoping we could get to know one another," Draxum replied. "Show you that not all of us Yokai are like that oversized brute Big Mama."

"We're well aware of that," Raph replied. "Now, if you'll excuse us…"

"I was hoping we could get to know one another. Show you that not all of us Yokai are like that oversized brute Big Mama."

"It seems I was unclear. I was offering you a tour. A proper one. I can assure you, Big Mama's forces won't bother you with me around."

"We're big kids," Vee replied. "We can tour the city ourselves and avoid her. Now please go away."

"I dunno…" Kagome let out. "I mean, we don't really know this town all that well. We could use the help."

"Are you kidding me?!" Raph demanded. "This guy is screaming bad news! And helping Krang with his experiments, perfecting the mutagen? Reason enough not to trust a word he says."

Kagome turned to Hisako. "What do you think?"

Hisako met Draxum's eye, a gaze he returned with a haughty confidence. Her eyes narrowed and the crystal glowed.

"I can't read him."

"I've dealt with Mind Flayers and many flavors of mental manipulation over my time," Draxum boasted. "You learn a trick or two when it comes to them."

"Well... that's not fishy at all." Mikey deadpanned.

"We'd love a tour," Leo decided.

"Seriously, Leo?!" Raph demanded.

Leo held up a hand. "Easy, Raph. I'm not stupid. Trust, but verify."

Raph grumbled before sighing. "Fine."

"Excellent," Draxum dropped several pieces of gold onto the table before standing up, holding the door open for them. "After you."

-X-

Baron Draxum led the Hamato teens toward the outskirts of the Hidden City. From there, they approached a large building situated on a cliff. It was round in appearance, covered in demonic vines and a few Ancient Demon flowers growing in the beds. The doors slid open for them, allowing the group to enter into a massive inner chamber. More plants and vines were everywhere, and there was a swirling mass of Empyrean bubbling in the center of everything.

"Well, that's ominous," Casey deadpanned.

"Welcome to my humble home," Draxum declared proudly.

The group looked around, taking in the sights. As they did, they saw what looked to be a large collection of mosquitoes.

"Are you a bug collector or something?" April asked.

"Ah, these are part of my latest experiment," Draxum opened one of the jars containing the insects, plucking one out gently. "It took some time to modify them to fit my purpose. Here, observe."

He sent the mosquito over toward the swirling mass of Empyrean, and then he flicked a lever, dumping several chemicals into the mixture. The natural movement mixed it all together, creating...

"Mutagen..." Donnie realized.

Draxum held up a finger as the mosquito flitted toward the ooze. It injected its proboscis into the container, sucking up some of the mutagen. Its clear abdomen filled up with the glowing liquid. It pulled away, returning to Draxum.

"Perfect," Draxum smiled. "The host itself is unaffected. Meaning the mutation properties will be reserved for its prey."

"Prey…" Vee rubbed her arms. "I don't like where this is going."

Draxum snapped his fingers and what looked like a cave made of vines opened up. The vines wrapped around the person inside: one of many bicycle delivery boys.

"Hey…" Mikey said, "Isn't that Stewart, the delivery boy for that really bad Chinese restaurant uptown?"

"The one with all the fake food and poor hygiene?" Vee questioned.

"Look, if you're the guy that keeps calling about the calamari, fine, it's pork butt!" Stewart cried. "But the crab cakes are real!"

"I assure you, I have no interest in your petty cakes of crab," Draxum replied.

"But we would love to hear more about those pork butts," one of his gargoyles chimed in.

Leo took a step back. "Guys…"

Raph shot him a look. "When this is over, Leo, I get the 'I told you so'."

"Fine, fine!"

Draxum approached the delivery boy. "You are about to be part of an experiment that will change the very nature of humanity."

Stewart gulped. "Is this... gonna hurt?"

Draxum shrugged. "If I'm doing it right."

Suddenly, a green mist slapped the mosquito out of Draxum's hand.

"Leave him alone!" Hisako shrieked.

Draxum whirled around, seeing Hisako's eyes glowing, along with April's. Karai was partially shifted, hissing.

"A perfect blend of human and mutant…" He teared up in awe. "It's beautiful…"

All three girls looked sick.

"Kami…" Karai shuddered with revulsion. "Is this what it feels like when those creeps stare at you, Kagome?"

Kagome rubbed her arms. "Actually… I think this might be worse."

"You FREAK!" Casey roared before charging at Draxum, swinging a baseball bat, only for the yokai to catch it with ease.

"I suppose I could use more test subjects. As for the rest of you, if you're not with us…" All of the plants around the base began to move. "Then you are against us."

Immediately, everyone drew their weapons.

"I knew you were bad news from the minute we met you!" Raph spat.

"Oh, my sincerest apologies," Draxum said sarcastically before throwing his arms out, the vines attacking them.

They dodged around, forced on the defensive as Draxum went on.

"You just don't get it, do you? Can't you understand what I'm doing? Everything I do is for the greater good of mutants and yokai alike!"

"By kidnapping people to hit them with Oozesquitoes?!" Mikey demanded.

"Oozesquito?" Draxum nodded in approval. "I'll give you that. It's catchy. And no. Not people." His voice practically dripped with venom at his next word. "Humans."

"What have humans ever done to you?!" Kagome demanded.

"It's not me. It's everything. This world belonged to the Yokai long before you hairless apes infested the surface, and ever since you learned to crack rocks together, you've been pushing us out. This world was rightfully ours. I'm simply taking it back. My Oozesquitoes will convert humanity into mutants and yokai, allowing my kind to return to the surface. To feel the warmth of the sun once more!"

"Dude, you are crazy!" Casey exclaimed.

Draxum scoffed. "The Council of Heads said much the same. Well, we'll see who's crazy when the conversion comes to pass!"

"Oh yeah," Hisako said. "That should clear things right up."

At that moment, they heard a pained yelp, spinning to see the delivery boy getting bit by the Oozesquito, leaving a red dot on his forehead.

"Oh crap!" April shrieked.

"Hey, that wasn't so – oh, ow. Okay, this part hurts," Stewart gasped in pain, his body contorting. "This part – oh! This part hurts. Ah, that hurts! OW! What's happening to me?!"

The sounds of bones cracking and pained gurgles reached their ears as he mutated, everyone cringing and barely managing to watch as Stewart was transformed into a mutant whitefish. He collapsed, panting.

"Yeah, jury's in," one gargoyle said flatly. "That was imitation crab."

"Crap!" Hisako screamed. "Water! Find water! Hurry!"

Seeing a tank nearby, Mikey scooped Stewart up, throwing him in. He breathed heavily before looking at his hands.

"I just got used to acne!" he cried. "Now this?!"

"Yeah, acne sucks, man," Mikey patted the tank. "Just hang out here. We'll be back later."

Draxum looked over the mutated Stewart. "Perfect. The Oozesquitoes work as intended. And when I unleash them on the world…" He began to laugh, only for a table to hit him in the back of the head. He turned to see Hisako and April levitating everything that wasn't nailed down.

"That…" Hisako began.

"Is not gonna happen." April finished.

They immediately began launching everything at him. He used the vines to break the things and knock them aside. Soon, the girls were ripping up machinery and parts of the wall, throwing them everywhere.

"Just give up!" April yelled. "You know we took down Krang! You know what we can do!"

Draxum laughed. "Baron Draxum does not surrender!"

"Oh wow," Karai snarked. "The whole 'sinister talking in the third person' thing. How scary. You sound just like Shredder!"

Draxum raised a hand. From his palm shot a brown sap-like substance. Unable to dodge in time, Hisako and April were hit, restrained back to back, and wrapped up in a cocoon from the neck down.

"What is this?!" April demanded. "Sap? Glue? Some kinda toxic snot?!"

Hisako squirmed, trying to reach her tessen. "Not what I'm worried about right now!"

Mikey scowled, his serious eyes on as he shifted his nunchucks to their kusarigama function. "You so shouldn't have done that."

Draxum just shot all of them one by one. Donnie and Mikey found themselves cocooned together.

"Y'know, we don't spend enough quality time together." Mikey joked.

"Not the time, Mikey!" Donnie snapped.

"I do not understand why he saw you as a threat," Draxum mused. "To humans, perhaps. But was Krang truly defeated by a gaggle of untrained buffoons like you?"

"We've been training all our lives!" Leo shot back.

"Perhaps, but I have millennia of experience. While you haven't even seen the second decade of your life. Still, you have potential. Perhaps under proper guidance, you could-"

All of a sudden, something teleported right on Draxum's face. It was Mayhem, who was barking and scratching like a maniac.

"Mayhem!" April exclaimed.

Leo popped a small knife out of his hand wraps, getting to work sawing through his cocoon.

"It teleports!" Donnie cried.

Mayhem began teleporting around, Draxum lashing out trying to catch him. However, all he did was end up destroying his own lab. As this went on, Leo managed to cut himself loose and got to work freeing the others. As he did, a vine managed to dislodge a large section of the roof. Raph saw that and, using the arm Leo had freed, grabbed his brother.

"LOOK OUT!"

Much to everyone's shock, a glowing red dome covered all ten of them. The dome was shaped like a shell, covered in spikes, and completely translucent. All eyes slowly turned to Raph, who now had glowing red markings spreading across his body.

"What the hell…?" Raph managed in shock and awe.

"Dude!" Mikey exclaimed. "You just Ninpōed!"

"I… did?"

"Um… Raph?" Leo piped up. "Could you put me down?"

"Right, sorry."

Raph released Leo, who got back to work cutting everyone loose. He managed to free everyone just as Draxum caught Mayhem by the scruff of his neck, turning back to them and seeing the dome.

"Mystic power... impressive. Fortunately for you, that's my specialty. I have experience with such power and mastery. I could train you, teach you everything I know. All you have to do is swear your loyalty to me, and help carry out my plans."

"Yeah…" Mikey pointed behind him. "I don't know if this is part of your plan, but your lab's about to explode."

Draxum perked, taking in the wrecked lab. A tank was beginning to spark, clearly about to go critical. Mayhem stuck out his tongue, then teleported right out of Draxum's arms. He landed right in April's arms and then used his powers to get them all out of the building.

"Oh, sh-" was all Draxum could get out before a large piece of the roof fell on him as the tank exploded and the building crumbled. The tank containing the Oozesquitoes shattered, the insects swarming out as the lab fell…

-X-

Outside, everyone stumbled a bit as they held their stomach.

"Oh, that feels all kinds of wrong…" Leo managed.

"Magic teleportation…" Donnie wheezed.

"Well, let's get outta here before anything else happens." Mikey raised the pendant, which glowed before opening the portal. They all jumped through the portal, vanishing.

They emerged into the surface in the alleyway off 18 and Rise. All of them flopped on the dirt, taking a breath.

"That... was… AWESOME!" Mikey exclaimed. "Raph, you summoned a giant turtle shell!"

"It looked like the shell of an alligator snapping turtle," Donnie mused. "Only... mystical."

"I saw Leo about to get squashed and just thought about saving him. And us," Raph mused. "So... my mystic power is energy constructs or something? Green Lantern style?"

"I think it's more like... armor," Leo noted. "It was around all of us, but it was centered on you."

"Mystic armor, bro!" Mikey cheered. "So cool!"

"Yeah... it was." Raph smiled.

"We should get back to Canal Street," Vee decided. "Here's hoping our next training session will be…" A mosquito flew past them. "Better?"

They slowly turned, seeing a swarm of what could only be Draxum's Oozesquitoes emerging from the open mouth of the portal, buzzing past them and into the sky. They all stared at the swarm in disbelief.

"Should we... do something?" April asked.

"Do what?" Vee questioned.

"Yeah, we're kinda past the point of no return on this one." Hsako pointed out.

"It's a massive horde of tiny insects," Donnie added. "There's no way in hell we can stop them all."

"Damn it…" Karai cursed.

"My God…" Kagome gasped. "What have we done?"

"You mean other than release mutagen-spreading mosquitos into the city?" Mikey said rhetorically.

"Yeah…" Casey tugged at his collar nervously. "It's best to just walk away from this one, guys. Just... walk... away."

They took Casey's suggestion, walking away from the closing portal whistling innocently.

Author's Note:

Baron Draxum has made his debut, and the Oozesquitoes have been unleashed upon New York. What will happen next?

Please R&R. Until next time!