The Six Mutant Ninja Turtles

by Skylarminthe5112

In which Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey have two sisters, Mari and Cat, with their own roles on the team. TMNT 2012 with sisters.

27. The Pulverizer Return

The city rooftops echoed with the sound of battle—well, if you could even call it that.

Raph smirked as he took down another Foot soldier with a swift strike of his sai. "I could do this all night," he taunted, stepping over the defeated ninjas. Then, as if on cue, the last one collapsed. He sighed. "Awwww, man."

Cat flipped her tessen shut and huffed. "Well, that was underwhelming."

Leo landed beside them, shaking his head. "Raph, if you keep breaking your toys, we're not gonna buy you new ones."

Mikey grinned, twirling his nunchucks. "Dude, it's like we just cleared a video game on easy."

Leo gave him a look. "Mikey, if Master Splinter has taught us anything, it's that real combat is not like a video game."

"Hey, coins!" Donnie suddenly called, crouching down to inspect something left behind by the Foot soldiers.

Leo sighed. "Case in point."

Despite the easy win, something felt off. The Foot hadn't exactly been putting up much of a fight lately. Leo frowned, scanning the rooftop. "The Foot soldiers haven't been much of a challenge lately. Wonder why?"

"Well, maybe we're just that awesome," Raph said smugly, crossing his arms.

Cat scoffed. "Or maybe they just really suck."

Leo nodded, lips quirking slightly. "That sounds right."

Donnie adjusted his goggles. "You know who I'd hate to be? The guy who has to tell Shredder about this."

A collective shudder ran through the team at that thought.

The night was unusually quiet as the turtles perched atop the rooftops, watching the T.C.R.I. building for any signs of activity. The air was crisp, and the distant hum of the city filled the silence.

Mikey, bored out of his mind, sat atop a nearby water tower, bouncing his ball up and down. Raph, sitting close by, was equally restless but far less entertained by Mikey's antics.

Cat, who had been crouched near the ledge, sighed dramatically. "This is soooo boring," she whined, flopping onto her shell. "Why is nothing happening? I could be doing literally anything else right now."

"Like what?" Raph grunted. "Painting your nails?"

Cat huffed. "No! Well—maybe. But still!"

Leo exhaled, making the call. "All right, guys. Let's pack it in. Nothing's happening."

Raph groaned dramatically. "I was afraid this day would come. We've run out of butts to kick." With an exasperated sigh, he reached over and smacked Mikey's ball mid-air, knocking it off course.

"Hey!" Mikey pouted as it bounced away.

But Leo suddenly stiffened, his eyes narrowing. "Wait. Maybe not."

They all turned their attention to a chunky figure leaning against the wall near the T.C.R.I. building.

"Foot Clan," Mikey observed, peering down at the lone individual.

Raph frowned. "I don't get it. Just one guy?"

Mikey squinted. "Maybe they only need one guy. Maybe this guy is the meanest, baddest, most deadly ninja we've ever seen."

As if on cue, the man tried to leap onto the window ledge... and completely failed.

The turtles watched in painful silence as he flailed and struggled to climb, only to get stuck.

"Or not," Donnie deadpanned.

Mikey tilted his head. "Anybody else find this dude kind of adorable?"

Cat snorted. "He's like a sad little potato."

Leo exhaled sharply. "Well, he's not much, but he's all we've got. Let's go."

The turtles leaped down, only to be ambushed by a swarm of Foot soldiers waiting in the shadows.

"Ambush!" Leo shouted.

Raph grinned, cracking his knuckles. "All right!"

The fight began, and the turtles tore through the Foot with ease. Their movements were fluid, precise—this wasn't much of a challenge.

Cat, dodging a particularly sluggish ninja, flicked her tessen open. "Wow, they're even worse than usual," she commented, landing a swift kick to one's chest.

Nearby, the struggling Foot ninja finally freed himself. "Everything okay? I heard—whoa!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Donnie swept his bo staff under his feet, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Wait, Donnie, it's me!"

Donnie blinked, recognizing the voice. He grabbed the ninja's mask and yanked it off.

His stomach sank.

"...The Pulverizer?"

Timothy grinned. "Hey, guys! How awesome is this? Bet you were wondering when you'd see me again!"

"No," Raph deadpanned.

Cat narrowed her eyes. "Wait... isn't this the dude who dressed like us—"

Timothy chuckled. "Ah, Raphael, still the jokester, I see. Good one." He stood up, gesturing to his new outfit. "Hey, what do you guys think of my new threads? I'm a ninja now!"

Donnie stared at him, horrified. "How in the world—What are you doing with the Foot?"

Timothy beamed. "Well, last time, you told me I needed to practice, so I joined a Bradford dojo to hone my craft. I wowed 'em with my smooth moves, and boom! They liked me so much, they asked if I wanted to join the Foot Clan!"

Mikey blinked. "Wow, they must really be hurting for dudes."

Cat scrunched her nose. "I don't think 'smooth moves' means what you think it means."

Timothy ignored them. "I've only been with 'em a few days, and I've already made the rank of ashigaru-sha! Ha!"

Donnie facepalmed. "Do you know what ashigaru-sha means?"

Timothy hesitated. "...No."

Donnie exhaled sharply. "It means cannon fodder."

Timothy blinked. "Oh, ho, ho. Wow."

Cat made a face. "Yeah, that tracks."

Donnie rubbed his temples. "Do you even know what that means?"

Timothy's grin faltered. "...No?"

"In traditional Japanese warfare," Donnie explained, frustration evident in his tone, "the ashigaru-sha were the expendable soldiers sent in first to waste the enemy's ammunition and set off traps before the real soldiers arrived."

Timothy frowned. "Nah. Nah, the Foot wouldn't do that. We're the good guys."

Donnie stared. "Why would you think that?"

Timothy waved a hand. "We're out there fighting the Kraang just like you! I-I mean, I-I do check for traps, and I-I do get shot at a lot. And now that you mention it... they do keep calling me expendable..."

Leo, who had been silent up until now, suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Why are the Foot fighting the Kraang?"

Timothy perked up immediately. "Oh! I can totally find that out for you! I could be a spy!"

Donnie sighed. "Pulverizer, do yourself a favor and quit the Foot."

Timothy chuckled. "Oh, sure. I'll quit the Foot."

"No, I'm serious."

"Of course you're 'serious.'"

"I am."

"Right. I'll, uh... recon intel and send you a text. I'm in ninja stealth mode."

Timothy turned to leave—only for a loud car horn to blare in the distance, followed by a crash.

The air in the dojo was still, save for the rhythmic sound of Master Splinter's footsteps as he walked in front of his students. The five turtles stood at attention, their expressions varying from curious to impatient.

Off to the side, Mari sat cross-legged with her arms folded, clearly annoyed at her continued sidelining. "Must be nice to actually be allowed to train," she muttered under her breath.

"You have defeated much of the Foot Clan with ease," Splinter stated, his tone neutral.

Raph raised a brow. "Why does he make that sound like a bad thing?"

"Because you have grown complacent!" Splinter snapped, making all six of them stiffen. "Each of you has become dependent on your own weapon. But there are times when you may not be able to fight with what you know. And when that happens, you must adapt to your environment."

Mikey tilted his head. "Oh, yeah? What if there's only, say... a comic book?"

Splinter didn't miss a beat. "Anything can be a weapon."

Raph scoffed. "Sensei, you can't seriously send us out there armed with nothing but a comic book."

"For a ninja, anything can be a weapon."

Leo, ever the responsible one, sighed. "So what do you want us to do?"

Splinter's eyes gleamed with purpose. "I want you to embrace the unfamiliar. Switch weapons."

A pause. Then, reluctantly, they obeyed.

Leo handed off his katanas and received Donnie's bo staff in return. Donnie took Raph's sai with a nervous grimace. Raph grumbled as he exchanged for Cat's tessen, looking utterly unimpressed as he flicked them open. Mikey brightened when he received the katanas. And then there was Cat.

She stared down at the nunchucks in her hands as if they were a ticking time bomb.

"...I think Sensei just gave me a death sentence," she whispered.

From her spot on the sidelines, Mari smirked. "This is gonna be great."

Cat hesitantly swung the nunchucks, only for them to immediately snap back and hit her square in the forehead.

"Ow!" she yelped, stumbling back and rubbing her face. "Yep. Definitely a death sentence."

Mikey cackled. "You just gotta feel the flow, Cat! Become one with the chucks!"

Cat glared at him. "I'm about to become one with your face."

Meanwhile, Raph scowled at the tessen, giving it an unimpressed flick. "This thing is tiny. How do you fight with these?"

Cat, still rubbing her forehead, shot him an exasperated look. "They literally have sharp edges! You just swing and slice, it's not that complicated!"

Leo sighed, already anticipating a disaster. "Let's just focus."

Mikey grinned, gripping the katanas. "Look! I'm Leo!" He puffed out his chest, lowered his voice, and imitated, "Guys, shh. We have to be quiet. Ninjas are quiet. Question."

Raph and Donnie burst out laughing.

Leo's eye twitched. "I sound nothing like that."

"Yes," Raph wheezed, still laughing. "That's why it's funny."

Splinter simply observed them before stepping back. "Face each other. Hajime!"

With that command, the sparring session began.

It lasted all of five seconds.

Raph swung the tessen wildly, clearly frustrated with it. "How do you even aim this thing?!"

Leo spun the bo staff, misjudged the length, and tripped over himself.

Mikey lost his grip on the katanas mid-swing, one clattering to the ground.

Donnie, attempting to wield the sai, somehow managed to poke himself in the throat.

And Cat? Cat had the worst luck of all.

She swung the nunchucks—only for them to wrap around her arm and yank her forward, sending her crashing straight into Mikey.

"AHH—MIKEY, MOVE!"

Too late. They collapsed into a heap.

Mari nearly fell over laughing. "That was beautiful."

"Ya me!" Splinter called, stopping the match.

The turtles—excluding Mari— groaned in frustration.

Mikey rubbed his wrist. "That was messed up."

Splinter remained unmoved. "You will continue to fight this way. It will teach you resourcefulness and versatility."

Mikey shot Raph a smug look. "Not so easy, is it?"

Raph gritted his teeth. "Hey, I'm getting the hang of it now!"

Mari, still smirking, leaned back against the wall. "Glad to see I'm not the only one suffering."

As the others struggled with their new weapons, Mari sat off to the side, arms crossed, watching with a mix of amusement and frustration.

Raph flicked open Cat's tessen, unimpressed. "How is this supposed to do any damage?"

Cat scowled. "I don't know, Raph, maybe try using it instead of whining."

Raph rolled his eyes but attempted a strike—only for the fan to snap shut mid-swing. His eye twitched.

Donnie twirled the sai experimentally, nearly stabbing his own leg. "This is so inefficient," he muttered, adjusting his grip.

Leo was stiff as he worked with the bo staff, clearly hating how different it felt from his katanas. Mikey, on the other hand, admired the blades in his hands like they were a newfound treasure. "Man, these katanas are slick! I feel so... dignified."

Cat clumsily swung the nunchucks, yelping as they tangled around her own arm. "How do you do this?" she whined.

Mikey smirked. "It's an art, KitKat."

Cat attempted another swing, only for the nunchucks to smack her in the forehead. She groaned. "Yeah, well, this art sucks."

That was the final straw for Mari—she let out a sharp laugh. "Oh, this is amazing," she snickered. "I should be recording this."

"You know what would be amazing?" Raph shot back, still struggling to wield the tessen properly. "If you actually shut up."

Mari smirked. "if I weren't stuck here, I'd probably be getting the hang of this lesson. But noooo—I can't do anything cuz I'm a little injured—"

Leo, still gripping the bo staff stiffly, glanced at her. "Mari—"

"No, don't start," she interrupted, scowling. "I already know. 'Rest, heal, don't be reckless.' I'm just saying, if you guys were smart, you'd be letting me fight."

Raph scoffed. "Yeah, and maybe if you'd listened in the first place, you'd already be healed by now."

Mari shot him a glare, but before she could retort, Donnie's T-phone buzzed.

He frowned, glancing down. "Uh-oh. Text message from you-know-who."

Mikey perked up. "Who's texting you? Is it April? It's April, isn't it? Tell her I say hi!"

Donnie ignored him, eyes scanning the message. His face fell. "The Pulverizer is telling us where the Foot are gonna strike next."

Raph snorted. "What do you know? He's actually useful."

Donnie sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Yeah, but he can't stay in the Foot. They'll toast him."

Raph shrugged. "Inside information, Donnie? It's worth the risk."

"But we're not the ones taking the risk," Donnie snapped. "The Pulverizer is."

Leo considered that, then let out a reluctant sigh. "I know. It's the perfect plan." He straightened. "All right. We'll follow up on his lead and then bust the poor guy out of the Foot."

Mikey, gripping the katanas, suddenly grinned. "Excuse me? I'm the sword guy. I make the decisions here." He paused, then added quickly, "Uh, what Leo said."

The alley was dim, the only light coming from a flickering streetlamp at the far end. Timothy crouched low, whispering to himself as he scanned his surroundings. "All right, I'm lookin' for traps... lookin' for traps..." He crept forward, eyes darting nervously.

Before he could take another step, a firm hand grabbed the collar of his ninja uniform and yanked him back into the shadows.

"Agh!" Timothy yelped, nearly tripping over his own feet. When he looked up, he found himself face-to-face with five very familiar figures.

"Oh, hey, great! You got my message," he said quickly, adjusting his Foot ninja mask as he regained his balance. "I have some information for you."

Donnie crossed his arms. "Great, great, but we're getting you out of here first."

Timothy barely had time to protest before the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the alley's entrance. Shadows stretched long against the brick walls as Dogpound, Fishface, and a group of Foot soldiers emerged.

Raph's grip on Cat's tessen tightened. "As soon as we get ourselves outta here."

Then, before anyone could react—

"HELP!" Timothy suddenly shouted, flailing his arms. "It's the turtles! They've got me!"

The air froze.

"What?!" Raph snapped, eyes flashing in disbelief.

Timothy leaned in, whispering, "Sorry, guys. Can't blow my cover."

Mikey gasped, offended. "Not cool, bro!"

Leo didn't hesitate. "Spread out!"

The team sprang into action just as the Foot charged.

Mikey swung his katanas wildly. "As the one with the swords, I say retreat!"

Leo ducked a strike from a Foot soldier and shot him a glare. "Having the swords doesn't make you leader!"

Before he could say anything else, Dogpound lunged—grabbing him by the shell and slamming him into the pavement.

Leo groaned, wind knocked from his lungs. "Not that it's a bad idea... Retreat!"

The team attempted to leap over Dogpound and make a break for it, but their swapped weapons were not working in their favor.

Raph flicked the tessen open, attempting to strike, but it snapped shut at the wrong moment. He growled in frustration. "How does Cat use this thing?!"

Before he could adjust, Fishface struck. The eel mutant spun, landing a powerful kick to Raph's gut and sending him flying into the alley wall.

Cat, who had already been struggling with the nunchucks, yelped as she attempted another attack—only for the weapon to wrap around her own arm. "WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?!" she shrieked.

Mikey barely had time to react before Leo collided with him, knocking them both over.

"Dude! Watch where you swing that thing!" Mikey wheezed, shaking his head.

Leo groaned, rolling off him. "You should talk!"

"Sorry! My bad!"

Donnie barely dodged a katana strike from one of the Foot soldiers, frustration clear in his expression. "Oh, this won't work..."

The Foot soldiers closed in. The fight was not going in their favor.

Leo gritted his teeth, making a split-second decision. "Switch weapons!"

Without hesitation, they tossed their weapons to each other mid-battle, catching their familiar grips just in time.

Mikey twirled his nunchucks, confidence returning to his stance. "Now we're talking!"

Raph grinned as he spun his sai in his hands. "Oh yeah—there's something real satisfying about not losing."

Cat, now with her tessen back, flicked it open effortlessly and smirked. "I missed you."

With their real weapons back in hand, they launched into action. Their movements became fluid, each strike more precise as they tore through the Foot with renewed strength.

From the shadows, one of the Foot soldiers lifted two canisters of glowing green liquid—mutagen.

Donnie's eyes widened. "Guys! Mutagen!"

The Foot soldier turned and vanished into the darkness.

Raph's expression darkened. "Shredder with mutagen? Yeah, that can't be good."

From his hiding spot near a dumpster, Timothy peered out, waving them over. "Psst! Over here!"

Mikey tilted his head. "You don't have to hide, Pulverizer. The Foot are gone."

Timothy cleared his throat, dropping his voice. "You shouldn't use my real name."

Mikey raised a brow. "Your real name is Pulverizer?"

"No! It's Timothy."

Donnie grabbed his shoulder, voice firm. "Stop talking like that, Tim."

Timothy hesitated, then nodded. "Guys, you'll never guess what Shredder's gonna do with the mutagen."

Donnie exhaled sharply. "He's gonna create a mutant army to destroy us?"

Timothy's eyes widened. "Yeah! But—there's a lot more to it than that."

Donnie squinted. "Really?"

Timothy's confidence faltered. "No. ...You guessed."

Donnie sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Pulverizer, you're in over your head. Go home."

Leo, however, wasn't convinced just yet. "Wait. Not until he finds out more about Shredder's mutation plan."

Timothy perked up. "Yeah, baby! The Pulverizer stays in the game!" He lifted a hand for a high-five. "Up high?"

The turtles just stared.

Timothy coughed, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "Okay then. I'm off! I'm practically invisible."

He turned and started sneaking away—

CLANG!

"Oh!"

CRASH.

"Oh, I'm okay! Sorry! Again! I'm gonna go spy now!"

As Timothy bumbled into the night, Raph shook his head. "So what if Shredder's building an army of mutants? They're still no match for my sai."

Mikey grinned, lifting his hand. "High three?"

Cat smirked, slapping his palm.

"Yeah!"

Leo exhaled, shaking his head. "Let's hope we're right about that."

The lair buzzed with post-battle energy as Mikey dramatically reenacted their fight against the Foot, twirling an imaginary pair of nunchucks with a big grin.

"And I was, like, makin' the bucks with my old nunchucks!" he boasted, striking a ridiculous pose.

Raph smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, well, I was droppin' the Foot like flies with my sai."

Mikey pointed at him. "Yeah, Raph!" He then turned to Leo, still full of excitement. "Leo? I had my kursawa swingin' and singin'!" He let out a loud laugh, clearly pleased with himself.

Both he and Raph slapped hands in celebration. "Yeah!"

Cat, perched on the arm of the couch, kicked her feet idly. "I mean, I didn't completely embarrass myself out there, so I'll take that as a win."

Raph scowled. "I swear, if I ever have to use that stupid fan again—"

"Hey!" Cat cut in, glaring at him. "It's not stupid!"

"It is in my hands!" Raph shot back.

Mari, who had been sitting off to the side with her arms crossed, scoffed. "At least you guys got to do something. I've been stuck down here playing spectator."

Mikey, meanwhile, was still flipping an invisible katana, completely oblivious to the tension. "But I was doing so good with the swords, though! Admit it, Leo, you were impressed."

Leo shot him a flat look. "I was not."

Mikey wiggled his fingers. "A little bit."

Before Leo could respond, Donnie, who had been sitting at the workbench with his knee bouncing anxiously, finally spoke up. "Guys, maybe it's not such a great idea sending the Pulverizer into harm's way."

Raph scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "You worry too much, Donnie."

Mari frowned. "Wait—Pulverizer? That guy's still around?"

"Unfortunately," Raph muttered.

"So you decided not to follow my lesson."

The turtles froze.

Standing in the center of the dojo, arms folded, was Master Splinter. His calm but disappointed gaze swept over them, making their victory cheer die instantly.

Raph frowned, crossing his arms. "Sensei, we don't get it. How does switching weapons help us in a fight? We were doing fine on our own."

Splinter's expression remained steady, his tone firm. "Then you still do not understand the point of the lesson."

The team exchanged uncertain glances.

Splinter continued, stepping forward. "So, you will learn how to adapt by having no weapons."

There was a beat of silence.

Leo, Donnie, Cat, Mikey and Raph stared at him in pure shock.

"Huh? What?!" they exclaimed in unison.

Mari let out an amused snort. "Oh, this is gonna be good."

Splinter didn't waver. "Hand over your weapons. Now."

There was no room for argument.

One by one, the turtles hesitantly handed over their weapons, placing them in Splinter's waiting hands. Cat, visibly reluctant, gave her tessen a slow, pitiful glance before placing it on the pile.

As their weapons disappeared from their grasps, an uneasy tension settled over them.

No weapons.

This was not going to be easy.

Mari smirked, leaning back with her arms still crossed. "Well, at least I get to watch the disaster unfold."

Leo shot her a look. "You wouldn't have to just watch if you'd actually rested."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm resting right now, aren't I?"

Donnie's phone rang, cutting through the tense atmosphere of the lair. He glanced down, recognizing the caller instantly.

"Oh," he muttered. "It's our spy."

Mari, sitting stiffly on the couch with her arms crossed, scoffed. "Oh, great. This oughta be good."

Cat, who was stretching nearby, perked up. "Oh! Maybe he's actually useful this time."

Donnie pressed the phone to his ear. "Spit it out, Timothy."

"This is special agent delta-niner," came Timothy's hushed yet excited voice. "Calling from behind enemy lines."

Cat tilted her head. "Why does he sound like he's in a spy movie?"

"Timothy," Donnie groaned, already regretting answering, "just tell me what you found."

"Okay, okay! The mutation experiment is going down on Broom Street in the Bowery. They're on their way there right now!" Timothy's voice brimmed with excitement. "And that's not all. You ready for this? Are you ready?"

The team exchanged wary glances.

"Yes," they all said in unison.

Timothy's voice dropped to a dramatic whisper. "Shredder's gonna mutate just one Foot soldier first as a test. And guess what? I volunteered!"

Donnie froze, his blood running cold. "What?!" he practically shouted.

Mari, who had been only half-listening, sat up straighter. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me."

Cat winced. "Oh, no..."

"I know! Isn't that cool?!" Timothy chirped.

"NO! Why would you think that's cool?!" Donnie's voice cracked with frustration.

"This is my chance to be like you guys! Throw some mutagen on me, and boom! I'm a superhero. I'm taking Shredder down!"

"Timothy, the mutagen is dangerous! You have no idea what that stuff could do to you!" Donnie ran a hand down his face.

"But once I mutate," Timothy went on, clearly ignoring him, "I'll unleash my mighty mutant powers on Shredder! I'll be all—" He made exaggerated karate noises. "'Yeah, take that, pointy man!'"

Mari snorted. "This guy's an idiot."

Cat, however, frowned. "Yeah, but... he doesn't deserve to get mutated for it."

There was a brief pause on the line.

"Oh, gotta go. Signing off!"

The call ended.

Donnie stared at the phone in horror.

Leo exhaled sharply. "I knew we should've gotten that guy out when we had the chance."

"Well," Donnie said, standing abruptly. "We're getting him out now. Let's go."

Cat nodded. "Yeah, before he does something even dumber."

The team immediately sprang into action, grabbing their gear and bolting for the Shellraiser.

Leo paused at the door, turning back to Mari, who was already scowling.

"Stay here."

Mari scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, I know."

"You need to rest," Leo said firmly.

Mari waved him off. "Just go before Pulverizer turns himself into a walking science experiment."

Leo gave her one last look before shutting the Shellraiser doors.

As it sped off, Mari huffed, leaning back against the couch. "Man, this sucks."

The Shellraiser roared through the streets, tires screeching as they tore through the city, pushing toward the Bowery. The team remained tense, knowing they didn't have much time.

Then—

Raph's eyes narrowed. "The Foot!"

Ahead of them, several Foot soldiers rode motorcycles, weaving through traffic.

Fishface was among them, his mechanical legs glinting under the city lights. He grinned, turning toward them with sharp, menacing teeth.

"Keep driving," Fishface ordered the other soldiers. "I'll take care of this."

The eel mutant launched himself toward them, his body twisting mid-air.

Raph smirked. "Eat hot trash, fish boy!"

He slammed a button on the console, and a barrage of garbage projectiles fired from the Shellraiser's roof, pelting one of the Foot motorcycles and sending it skidding across the asphalt.

But Fishface was fast.

Too fast.

With an inhumanly agile flip, he landed on the roof of the Shellraiser before they could react.

Donnie's eyes widened. "He's on the roof!"

Raph didn't hesitate. He spun toward the hatch.

"I got this."

Just as Fishface lunged, Raph slammed the hatch closed, knocking him back.

"Ha! All right, Plan B. Whatcha gonna do now?"

Fishface's grin only widened.

Then—

With one powerful stomp, he crushed the Shellraiser's front tire.

Raph's smirk vanished.

Cat, gripping the side of her seat, let out a strangled noise. "Oh no—oh no, no, no—"

The Shellraiser spun out of control, jerking violently. Cat yelped as she was thrown sideways, barely managing to brace herself before impact.

The vehicle crashed hard against a streetlight, rattling everyone inside.

The turtles groaned as the impact jolted through them.

Cat let out a breathless squeak. "I think—I think my soul just left my body."

"You good?" Mikey asked, helping her sit up.

"No. But thanks for asking."

As the dust settled, laughter echoed through the streets.

"I'll deal with you soon enough, freaks," Fishface called over his shoulder before disappearing into the night.

Donnie pushed himself up with a groan, his mind racing. He grabbed his T-Phone and scanned the area. His stomach twisted.

"Sensei once told me the Pulverizer is my responsibility." He turned toward the others, his grip tightening. "I gotta stop him."

Without waiting for a response, Donnie hopped onto his go-kart and sped off toward the Bowery.

Leo exhaled sharply, adjusting his grip on his weapons.

"Come on," he ordered. "We'll go on foot."

Cat rubbed her head, still reeling from the crash. "You know, I think I liked it better when we had a working car."

The warehouse was dimly lit, the green glow of the mutagen casting eerie shadows along the rusted walls. Dogpound loomed over the control panel, his massive form taking up most of the space as he barked an order to Fishface.

"Get the volunteer directly under the mutagen."

Fishface sneered, gripping Timothy's arm as he dragged him toward the massive vat of glowing green liquid.

Timothy, barely able to contain his excitement, grinned. "Oh, ho, ho! Yeah, let's get this show on the road." His eyes flickered to Fishface's robotic legs, curiosity overtaking caution. "Hey, those legs are cool, man. Is that part of the mutation, or is it, like—"

Fishface snarled, snapping his sharp teeth inches from Timothy's face.

Timothy immediately backed up. "Whoa, okay! Guess I'll find out for myself soon enough." He took a deep breath, puffing out his chest. "In a world where evil runs rampant, one man had the courage to sacrifice his humanity—"

"Move!" Fishface snapped, shoving him forward.

Before Timothy could take another step, the warehouse doors burst open.

The Foot barely had time to react before Donnie came crashing through on his go-kart, skidding across the floor and slamming straight into the Foot Clan's formation.

Dogpound let out a furious snarl. "Get them!"

The Foot soldiers lunged forward, katanas flashing under the dim lights.

Donnie barely had a second to react before remembering—he had no weapon.

"Aw, sewer apples," he muttered.

His eyes darted around the warehouse, landing on a discarded broom leaning against the wall. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and whirled it around, deflecting an incoming blade.

Timothy, meanwhile, had a different idea.

"Now's my chance!" he declared, bolting toward the mutation controls.

Donnie's stomach dropped.

"Timothy, no!" he shouted, shoving a Foot soldier out of the way. "What are you doing?!"

Timothy's eyes gleamed with determination. "I'm gonna be a mutant, just like you guys!"

Donnie's expression twisted in horror. "Timothy, doing the mutation thing is notoriously unpredictable and really stupid!"

But Timothy wasn't listening. He sprinted toward the machine, his hands reaching for the lever.

Donnie groaned in frustration. "I'm saving you, you idiot!"

Just as Fishface lunged at him, Donnie swung up onto a hanging chain, using the momentum to slam into the mutant eel's face, knocking him aside.

Then—

The warehouse doors burst open again, and Leo, Raph, Mikey, and Cat came barreling in.

"Oh, yeah," Leo smirked, cracking his knuckles. "No weapons."

Raph grinned. "Let's get creative."

"Remember," Leo reminded as they spread out, "anything can be a weapon."

Raph snatched up a long metal pipe, giving it an experimental spin. Mikey grabbed a wooden board, twirling it between his fingers like a set of makeshift nunchucks. Leo ripped down a chain from the rafters, swinging it with ease.

Cat, on the other hand, surveyed the chaotic battlefield with a rapidly growing sense of horror. "I hate this plan," she muttered.

She ducked as a Foot soldier swung at her and instinctively grabbed the nearest thing—a discarded toolbox. With a desperate yell, she hurled it forward, watching it smash into the Foot soldier's face.

"OH—Okay, that actually worked," she breathed.

Nearby, Raph snorted. "Guess you're finally getting the hang of it."

"Shut up," Cat shot back, quickly grabbing a wrench for good measure.

As the turtles launched into battle, Timothy turned back to the mutagen machine. His fingers wrapped around the lever.

"Okay, big-dog-man-thing," he muttered under his breath, "you asked for it!"

Donnie's heart pounded.

"Timothy, DON'T—"

Too late.

Timothy pulled the lever.

A horrifying wet squelch echoed through the warehouse as a wave of mutagen came crashing down onto him.

For a split second, there was silence.

Then—

A bloodcurdling scream.

Timothy collapsed onto the ground, his body writhing as the mutagen burned through his clothes, his skin, his everything.

"Oh, it burns!" Timothy's voice was distorted, twisted with pain and horror. "I didn't think it would burn so bad!"

Cat's breath hitched. "Oh, no—"

The turtles froze, their gazes locked on the sight before them.

The Foot soldiers, for once, took a step back, eyes wide with fear.

Raph's face scrunched in disgust. "What happened?"

Donnie swallowed thickly, his voice strained. "Pulverizer... got his wish."

Leo's grip on the chain tightened. "And we got a problem."

Mikey's face twisted with revulsion. "That dude's straight nasty."

Before their eyes, Timothy's body warped and melted, his human form dissolving into a grotesque, translucent blob with his internal organs floating inside him.

A grotesque, slimy abomination slithered from the remains of his uniform.

"Mutagen Man..." Donnie whispered in horror.

From the corner of the room, Cat winced at the sight, her stomach turning. "This... this is what happens when you play with mutagen," she said under her breath, her eyes glued to the sight of Timothy's transformation. She stepped closer to the group, taking a cautious step back as the creature writhed.

Leo's grip on the chain tightened, and his eyes narrowed. "We've got to get out of here. Now."

Dogpound growled from the side, stepping back. "Make sure those fools don't escape!" He pulled a detonator from his belt, his finger poised above the button. "I'm gonna blow this place sky-high."

Leo's eyes widened. "We have to move—now!"

The Foot surged forward, their attacks frantic as they tried to keep the turtles trapped inside.

Donnie's gaze flicked toward Timothy—or, what used to be Timothy. Mutagen Man let out a wet, gurgling snarl before lunging forward, his gelatinous body sloshing upon impact with a metal crate.

The turtles scrambled out of the way.

Donnie hesitated, his heart twisting. "But what about him?" he asked, glancing at the mess of slime that had once been their teammate.

Mikey threw his makeshift board at Mutagen Man—only to watch it melt as it was absorbed by the creature's form.

"Oh no..." Mikey muttered, backing up quickly. "He just ate our weapons!"

Donnie's hands curled into fists, his frustration boiling over. "And it looks like we're next."

Mutagen Man turned, his grotesque, half-formed face reflecting in the broken glass of a nearby crate. For a moment, something resembling human recognition flickered in the blob's distorted eyes.

Donnie's heart pounded. "Timothy!" he shouted. "It's us! The turtles!"

The creature froze for a moment, its warped, semi-visible eyes locking onto Donnie's.

"That's right," Donnie urged. "Timothy, it's us!"

For a brief second, something human flickered in his gaze. But then—

Mutagen Man screamed in agony.

He lunged, and the turtles dove out of the way.

Leo gritted his teeth. "We have to go."

Donnie shook his head, not ready to give up yet. "Not without Timothy!"

Mikey hesitated. "Uh, Donnie? How do you suggest we move the giant slime monster?"

Cat winced again. "Yeah, we're not exactly equipped for this," she muttered under her breath.

Donnie's mind raced, eyes darting around. Then—an idea.

"Raph, get the stealth cycle! Mikey, distract him!" Donnie barked, already planning the next step.

Leo's eyes narrowed as he realized Donnie's plan. "This better take less than ten seconds."

Mikey nodded and took a deep breath, then waved his arms, trying to get Mutagen Man's attention. "HEY, TIMOTHY!"

The blob lurched toward him, and Donnie shouted, "NOW!"

Leo kicked a canister off the shelf, sending it crashing onto Mutagen Man's form. Donnie yanked Mikey out of the way just in time.

Raph sped forward on the stealth cycle, grabbing the gelatinous mass and tearing out of the warehouse.

Behind them, the entire building erupted in flames, sending a shockwave of heat through the air.

Cat barely managed to stay on her feet, following the others as they raced toward the exit. The roar of flames behind them reminded her just how close they'd come to being trapped.

Back at the lair, the turtles stood around Mutagen Man's containment tube, their faces a mixture of exhaustion and disbelief. The glass tube glowed faintly with the strange green liquid inside, and Timothy's grotesque, mutated form floated within it. The room was unusually quiet, only the soft hum of the containment system filling the space.

Mari sat off to the side on a crate, looking visibly irritated as she fidgeted with her hands. She wasn't part of the battle—still sidelined by her injury—and she couldn't hide her annoyance at being left out. "I can't believe this is how it ended up," she muttered under her breath, her eyes flicking toward the tube. "He wanted this. He actually wanted this."

Cat, standing nearby, leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. She glanced over at Mari, then back at the mutated form of Timothy. She stayed quiet for a long moment before speaking, her voice softer than usual. "He didn't have to do it... but, yeah, looks like he got exactly what he was after."

Splinter's calm voice broke the silence. "Do you think Timothy is happy with his new state of being?"

Leo exhaled, his face grim. "Seems that way. He wanted to be a mutant... and he got his wish."

Raph, arms crossed and his expression unreadable, looked at the tube. "Donnie, we're letting you keep him—but you gotta stash him in your lab so I don't have to look at him."

Donnie placed a hand on the glass, his expression soft. "I promise, Timothy... One day, I'll turn you back."