Investigation Part Four

Dannie's P.O.V.

After going on god knows how many rides, we finally got the sparkplugs we needed for the Un-Shrinker. Now we just need to-

(cat meowing)

Turtles: AAAAAAAHHHHH!

Giant cat! Not good when you're this small. We all scattered in different different directions, leading to me and Mikey climbing up a rope to what would be a small fountain for a regular sized person. Once we got to the top...

?: La, la la! What have we here? You're not ants, not even crickets! Taxini has ne-e-e-everrrR seen such strange BUGS!

This big bug came out of the water and it sounds like he's singing everything he says.

Mikey: That's because we're turtles, dude.

?: Turtles! La, la, how curious. How biiiiiii-zaAaaare! What brings you to TAXINI?

Guess his name is Taxini.

Me: We got separated from our brothers while trying to avoid a giant cat, but we're also on the lookout for some items...

That's when i noticed the balloons on the other side of the water.

Me: Like that string from those balloons over there. (points)

Taxini: No problemmmm. Taxini can help yoooou! For I am Taxiniiiii! Your local, friendly taxi service! To the other side of the pool i can take you! At the Ultimate Toys Marina you can lounnnnnge! Innnnn! LUXUREEEEE! Thank you, thank you, grazie, grazie.

Mikey: Uh, I'm a little short on cash, Taxini.

Me: And whose fault was that?

Mikey: Hey!

Taxini: No need to worry, my friends! You can paaaAaaaay me with words!

Hearing that, Mikey and I gave each other a dumbfounded look on our faces.

Me: I'm sorry, what?!

Mikey: How can you pay someone with words?

Taxini: (not singing) Ah, some kid come along and tear up Taxini's practice lyrics sheets and tossed them all over this pool. Taxini's great opera masterpiece needs your help. Can you help Taxini with his spelling?

Mikey: That shouldn't be too hard to do, right Dannie?

Me: Provided you know how to spell correctly.

But, if we help him, he can get us to the string. It's too far for us to swim ourselves, and we don't know what's in the water. Probably for the best.

Me: Alright Taxini. We'll help you.

I was quick to get up on Taxini's back and Mikey followed behind. Taxini then started swimming in the water to the Marina.

Mikey: What exactly do you want us to do?

Taxini: La-la-la. We'll see some words as we travel across this ocean! BuuuuutT! I only want the words that are spellllllllled correctly! 12 words exactly, and each word is worth ONE dollar!

Mikey: Bravo, Taxini, dude!

Me: Okay, so 12 correctly spelled words and we go to the Marina. Mikey, I'll guide Taxini to the correct words, you pick them up. Once we get 12 words, we'll leave them at the Marina and get our strings for the Un-Shrinker.

Mikey: Got it!

Of course, that was easier said than done, having to dodge other bugs and anything else in the waters while keeping an eye out for the word sheets. Once we did manage to get them...

Taxini: Bella Salute! Here we are at last! The Beeeeautiful Ultimate Toys Marina!

Mikey: Land ho dudes!

Me: Look, there's the string we need for the Un-Shrinker. I'll go get it.

I grab the sheets we collected and walk onto the Marina. Once i set the papers down, i grab the loose string we need and hop on Taxini's back.

Taxini: Back to the beginning, here we go!

Mikey: We need three pieces of strings, right?

Me: Yeah, so get ready to collect more paper from the water.

Mikey: Righty-o!

I simply roll my eyes at that remark. I hope our brothers are doing okay.

Meanwhile...

Third Person P.O.V.

After completing Eldon's game a fourth time, the group managed to reach the 4th floor. As the doors opened, they noticed the difference on this floor compared to the other ones, namely the lack of toys here.

Danny: Sounds like a laboratory here.

Crane: Definitely looks the part.

Tigress: It also looks like someone else is here.

Everyone looked ahead and saw that there was another person in the room. A weasel dressed up like an employee, hunched over a table pouring liquids from one vial into another.

?: Work, work, work, you microscopic enzyme!

Danny: (whispers) What's he doing?

Viper: (whispers) Whatever it is, it isn't working.

The liquid in his hands turned green, shook inside the glass, and then poofed a big cloud. The air was then filled with the smell of the liquid.

?: Oh, the formula for high-energy petroleum continues to elude me! This equipment is useless!

The weasel angrliy slams the glass equipment on the table as he leaves, not noticing the group. Once they were sure he was gone, they approached the table.

Po: What is this smell? Never smelled anything like it.

Tigress: (sniffs) Smells like fuel... But not like any fuel I've ever smelled before.

Mantis: Who was that guy?

Serena: Judging by his voice, there's no mistaking that he's Pericles, the toy store manager.

Danny: He may be the manager, but he was acting more like a mad scientist.

Monkey: Was he really trying to make some high-energy fuel or something?

Ali-trap: Fuel for what?

Tigress: That's the million dollar question: Why would a toy store manager need high-energy fuel?

Crane: Not sure, but it doesn't mean anything good.

Tigress: Right. Let's see if there's anything that could help with the Un-Shrinker.

Viper: What about this beaker?

Monkey: Are you sure, Viper?

Serena: Ali, can you check and see if this vial is safe to pick up?

Ali-trap: whirrrs My sensors indicate that it's safe.

Crane: Good. A solution like this is just what Laptrap ordered. Let's be careful with this thing.

After tightly sealing the vial, everyone made their way back to the elevator.

(beeping and static)

Back on the 6th floor

(beeping and static)

Leo: Hello?

Monkey: Hey. We caught a glimpse of Perciles, the store manager.

Raph: The same guy we heard over the speaker, the one with the weird accent?

Danny: The same. He's up to something odd.

Donnie: Odd how, exactly?

Serena: Saw him on the fourth floor mixing chemicals. It seemed like he was trying to make some high-energy fuel, but he's had no luck.

Leo: Hmm...

Dannie: Leo?

Leo: First, the owner is trying to make an Un-Shrinker and now the toy store manager is trying to make high-energy fuel. For a toy store, these guys are certainly up to something behind the scenes.

Tigress: Agreed. For all we know, this toy store could a front for something dangerous or illegal.

Po: In a toy store of all places!?

Mikey: Dude...

Donnie: Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions.

Tigress: Hopefully on the next floor, we'll get some answers. See you soon.

(powers down)

Little did anyone realize just how close those answers really were.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed the chapter and please review.