The alleyway was dimly lit, neon lights from the city casting a faint glow over the cracked pavement. The Kraang stood in a rigid line, their eerie monotone voices filling the air. In their hands, they held a sleek, alien weapon.

Donnie's eyes widened in alarm. "That's a sub-spatial endo-particle disruptor."

Leo shot him a look. "Gonna have to explain if that's an 'oh no' or a 'yay.'"

Donnie barely took a breath before launching into an explanation. "In the hands of the Kraang, it's a definite 'oh no.'"

Mikey tilted his head. "Why? What does it do?"

Donnie gestured emphatically. "The disruptor can de-synchronize subatomic resonances, which invert polymolecular structures, causing them to implode—"

Mikey stared at him blankly.

Raph sighed. "It makes things go boom."

Donnie huffed. "Technically, it makes things go zwee-choo... POP!"

Everyone turned to stare at him.

Donnie crossed his arms. "It's important to be accurate."

Mari raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, and totally necessary."

Cat, on the other hand, was barely paying attention. Her eyes were locked on the Kraang's weapon, a mix of fear and awe in her expression. "I mean... it does look kinda cool," she muttered.

Raph side-eyed her. "Yeah? Try saying that when it's aimed at your face."

Meanwhile, high above on the rooftop, three figures loomed in the shadows.

Stockman adjusted his cracked glasses, his grin wide and eager. "With that endo-particle disruptor in our arsenal, we'll be unstoppable." He lifted his arms dramatically. "Alright, men, we move on my signal—"

A massive hand seized him by the collar, yanking him off his feet.

"Your signal?" Dogpound growled, his claws tightening against Stockman's lab coat.

Stockman's voice immediately faltered. "Uh—I meant our signal?"

Dogpound pulled him closer, eyes narrowing dangerously. "You do what we say, and then you thank us for letting you live. Got it, Stinkman?"

Stockman winced as Dogpound tossed him back onto the rooftop. His face twisted in irritation. "It's Stockman. Stock-man."

A sharp kick landed against his shoulder, sending him sprawling again.

"What was that?" Fishface asked, his voice dripping with menace.

Stockman scrambled up quickly, his expression twisting into something bitter. "Nothing," he muttered under his breath.

Fishface leaned in, his jagged teeth glinting under the moonlight. "Screw this up, and I'll finish you myself. Remember that."

Stockman swallowed hard and nodded. "Thank you for letting me live," he forced out.

Fishface smirked before turning away, but Stockman clenched his fists in silent fury. Just you wait, freaks.

Leo crouched low, eyes locked on the Kraang below. "Okay, guys. Get in position."

Across the rooftop, Dogpound cracked his knuckles. "On my mark."

Leo's grip tightened around his swords. "Ready..."

Dogpound's eyes narrowed. "Set..."

Raph scoffed. "Let's just do this."

Fishface hissed. "Enough talk."

All at once, they leapt.

The moment their feet hit the pavement, the Kraang snapped their heads toward the ambush.

Raph smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Kraang and Fishface and Dogpound? Man, I must be dreaming. Somebody pinch me—"

When Mikey obliged, Raph smacked him.

The battle erupted in a chaotic clash of metal and energy blasts. The Kraang and Foot Clan swarmed the alley, meeting the turtles and their enemies in a storm of fists, blades, and lasers.

Leo deflected a Kraang's blaster with his katana, driving his foot into its chest and sending it flying. Donnie spun his bo staff, knocking a Foot soldier off balance before flipping them onto the pavement. Raph was already mid-brawl with Fishface, the two trading blows in a flurry of aggression.

Mari fought with precision, cutting through enemies with her tanto. She ducked under a Kraang's swing, then sliced its blaster in half before kicking it backward. She barely spared a glance at her opponent before moving on.

Cat, on the other hand, was not fighting with precision.

She let out a panicked shriek as she barely dodged a Kraang's attack. "Why are they aiming at me?! I didn't even do anything yet!"

"Maybe try doing something!" Mari called, slicing another Kraang down.

Cat fumbled with her tessen before smacking a Kraang across the face. "Ha! I did something!" she declared proudly—right before another Kraang fired at her. She screamed and bolted behind Raph.

"Seriously?!" Raph snapped, blocking an attack while Cat used him as a shield.

Meanwhile, Stockman lingered on the rooftop, watching the fight unfold with a mixture of fascination and frustration.

Then—

A Kraang blaster fired wildly, striking the rooftop mere inches from where he stood. The impact sent chunks of concrete flying, and Stockman barely managed to stumble out of the way in time. His heart pounded as he turned toward the rooftop door, yanking at the handle.

Locked.

He shoved against it again, then once more, but it refused to budge.

"Oh, you gotta be kidding me," he groaned, throwing his hands up.

Down below, Mikey twirled his nunchucks, easily dispatching the last of the Kraang in his path. "Boom, baby! Another one bites the—"

A laser shot rang out.

Mikey barely had time to react before Donnie tackled him out of the way.

The blast struck a parked car.

With a strange, warping Zwee-choo...POP!, the vehicle vanished into thin air.

Mikey blinked. "Whoa. Donnie, you totally called it, bro."

The Kraang, realizing they were outmatched, scrambled toward their transport. The engines roared as the alien vehicle peeled away, speeding down the street.

Leo didn't hesitate. "Guys, we gotta move. Raph, now!"

Raph scowled, still locked in a staredown with Fishface.

The mutant fish smirked. "Yes, run along now, boy."

Mari tensed, watching them carefully. She hated how cocky Fishface was.

Cat, meanwhile, peered around Raph's shoulder but still didn't let go of him. "Can we please just leave before I get disintegrated?!"

Raph bared his teeth. "This isn't over, Fishface."

Without another word, he turned and followed his siblings, Cat behind him.

Above them, Stockman remained stranded on the rooftop. He watched as the others disappeared into the night, realization slowly setting in.

"Hello?" His voice wavered. "Anyone?"

Silence.

"I'm kind of stuck up here..." He tugged uselessly at the locked door again. "Hello?"

Back at the lair, the turtles trained in the dojo under Splinter's watchful eye.

One by one, they stood before him, attempting to dodge his wooden staff.

Donnie stepped up first.

A swift whack to the ribs sent him stumbling backward.

"Agh—man!" he groaned, rubbing his side.

Splinter moved to Mikey.

Mikey raised a hand. "Just so we're clear, Sensei, you are planning on swinging, ri—"

The stick cracked against his shoulder before he could finish.

Mikey let out a dramatic yelp, collapsing onto the floor.

Next was Mari.

She narrowed her eyes, locking onto Splinter's movements. When he swung, she almost dodged in time—but the staff clipped her leg, making her stumble.

"Tch." She gritted her teeth. "Almost had it."

Splinter nodded approvingly. "Your reflexes are sharp. But your mind is too focused on the obvious attack."

Mari clenched her fists but gave a short bow, silently absorbing the lesson.

Splinter turned to Cat.

Cat stared at the staff, tense and wide-eyed. "Wait, wait—do I have to do this?"

Splinter simply raised a brow.

Cat swallowed. "Right. Yeah. I figured."

She squeezed her eyes shut.

The hit never came.

She cracked one eye open—just as Splinter lightly tapped her on the forehead.

Cat yelped and fell backward dramatically. "Aaaah! I'm down! I'm down!"

Mari sighed. "Seriously?"

Splinter shook his head in amusement before turning to Raph.

Leo, meanwhile, braced himself, carefully reading his master's movement.

At the last second—he dodged.

His chest swelled with pride. "Yes!"

Raph scoffed. "What's the point of this, anyway?"

Splinter remained calm. "Evading a sword you cannot see demonstrates an ability to sense your enemy's intention."

Raph folded his arms. "I already know my enemy's intention, Sensei—to take me down."

Splinter's gaze didn't waver. "Knowing that your enemy will strike is a given. But sensing when he will strike can mean the difference between victory and defeat."

Raph hesitated.

Then, after a beat, he sighed, bowing his head slightly.

"Hai, Sensei."

Cat, still on the floor, peeked up. "So... does this mean I passed?"

Splinter gave her a look.

Cat groaned, flopping back onto the floor. "Didn't think so."

The rooftops of New York stretched endlessly before them, bathed in the dim glow of streetlights. The turtles raced across the skyline, leaping between buildings with practiced ease.

Donnie suddenly skidded to a stop, eyes narrowing as he peered down into the streets below.

"I got eyes on one giant dog and fish. Six o'clock."

Mikey perked up. "Where?"

He eagerly scanned the area, only for his excitement to fizzle out the moment he spotted the figures below.

His shoulders slumped. "Aw, man. It's just Fishface and Dogpound."

Sure enough, the two mutants stood in plain sight on the sidewalk, their presence unusually... obvious. They weren't hiding, weren't moving stealthily—just standing there, as if waiting.

Leo frowned, suspicion prickling at the back of his neck. "What are they doing out in the open like this?" His grip tightened around his katanas. "I think we should proceed with caution, guys. Guys?"

Silence.

Leo turned.

The others were already mid-air, leaping straight into the fight.

Mari, of course, was among them. "Finally, some action!" she called, flipping down with her tanto drawn.

He groaned. "Oh, man."

Down below, Raph wasted no time charging straight at Fishface, a wild grin splitting his face. "Where were we? Oh yeah, I was turning you into fish sticks!"

Fishface's eyes gleamed dangerously. "Actually, I believe I was turning you into turtle soup."

Before he could strike, Raph lunged first, landing a brutal kick to his chest.

Meanwhile, Leo squared off against Dogpound, leveling his katana at the hulking mutant. He smirked. "Stay. Good dog."

Dogpound growled—and knocked the sword clean out of Leo's hands.

Mikey, watching from the sidelines, pumped a fist in the air. "Look! We got 'em on the run!"

Raph's teeth clenched. "Oh, they aren't getting off that easy."

Mari adjusted her stance, eyes narrowing. "Something about this doesn't sit right."

Leo's instincts screamed at him. "Raph, wait. Something's not right."

"Yeah," Raph shot back. "You talking while they're getting away."

Without another word, he took off after them.

Cat hesitated, eyes darting between the two groups. "Wait—shouldn't we think about this first? Like, I dunno, maybe it's a trap?"

Mari rolled her eyes. "Obviously, but no one ever listens."

With a sigh, Leo followed, Mari and Cat on his heels.

The abandoned building loomed ahead, its windows shattered, its entrance yawning open like the maw of some long-forgotten beast. The turtles and their sisters crept inside, their footsteps barely making a sound against the dust-covered floor.

Raph led the way, eyes sharp. "This way."

The moment they stepped further in, shadows swallowed them whole.

Then—

A voice echoed from the darkness. "All right. You got us."

Dogpound and Fishface stood still, hands raised in mock surrender.

Leo's eyes narrowed. "This is way too easy."

Mari crossed her arms, skeptical. "Yeah, no way this isn't a setup."

Raph scoffed. "Why are you always worrying?"

Before Leo or Mari could respond, a red circle illuminated the floor beneath them. The ground trembled. With a loud CLANK, thick black-and-white striped walls shot up around them, sealing them inside.

Raph's stomach sank. "Oh. I see."

Mikey blinked, taking in their surroundings. "Careful, guys. This may be a trap."

Cat, who had been looking around curiously, let out a nervous laugh. "Mikey, this is a trap."

A crackling sound filled the air.

Then—

Stockman's voice rang out, gleeful and mocking. "Welcome, contestants! I'm so glad you could join us tonight!"

Leo groaned. "Blister Stockboy?"

A growl of irritation. "It's Baxter Stockman! And I am your archnemesis!"

Mikey snorted. "I can totally think of five nemesises way archer than him."

Stockman continued, undeterred. "You'll be playing for the ultimate prize—your lives—in the all-new, family-friendly, incredibly deadly... Maze of Doom!"

Without warning, fireballs rained from the ceiling.

The group barely managed to dodge as flames exploded around them. Fishface and Dogpound scrambled out of the way, their earlier bravado replaced with shock.

"You fool!" Fishface snapped, dodging another fireball. "What are you doing?!"

Stockman's voice crackled with venom. "I'm sick of you freaks! You treat me like dirt, threaten me—well, no more!"

Fishface's expression darkened. "Have you gone mad?!"

Stockman let out a maniacal cackle. "Mad? Oh no, my slimy little friend—I'm full-on mega crazy!"

Dogpound snarled, betrayal flashing in his eyes. "You traitor!"

Mari flipped her tanto in her hand. "Yeah, shocker."

Stockman ignored them, his voice brimming with triumph. "And even if you somehow survive my maze, you'll still have to face my Monster of—"

Leo sighed. "Doom? Is it a Monster of Doom?"

Stockman faltered. "No! Uh... Monster of, uh..." He hesitated before huffing. "Oh, the heck with it!"

A loud CLUNK.

The floor beneath them vanished.

They plummeted into the abyss.

Screams echoed through the air as they hurtled downward, the wind roaring past them.

Then—

THUD!

They crashed onto a hard stone floor, groaning as they scrambled to their feet.

Raph exhaled. "Where in the—?"

Before he could finish, two more figures came hurtling down.

THUD.

Dogpound and Fishface landed a few feet away.

Cat coughed, pushing herself up. "You know, for a death trap, that was actually kinda fun."

Mari dusted herself off, shooting her a look. "Yeah? Then why were you screaming?"

Cat gasped dramatically. "Excuse me, that was fun screaming. Totally different."

Leo groaned, already sensing the oncoming headache. "Focus, guys. We need to get out of here."

The moment they regained their footing, Dogpound cracked his knuckles. "Now, where were we?"

Fishface's eyes gleamed dangerously. "Total turtle takedown."

The fight resumed instantly.

Blades clashed. Fists flew. The walls around them pulsed with shifting lights, the air thick with the scent of burnt metal.

Then—

A deep rumble.

Large red axes materialized in midair, swinging wildly from mechanical arms.

Leo's heart lurched. "What is—?" His eyes widened. "Uh-oh. This can't be good."

Mari's eyes flicked upward, immediately assessing the pattern of the swinging axes. "Oh, that's bad."

Raph barely had time to shove Fishface out of the way before an axe came slicing down. "I saved you, why, calamari boy?!"

Fishface groaned, flipping backward to avoid another blade.

Leo slashed at one of the axes, slicing the mechanism in half. Sparks flew, and the blade clattered to the floor.

"If we keep fighting," Leo panted, "we're never going to make it out of here alive."

Donnie pointed ahead. "The exit—there!"

Dogpound didn't hesitate. "Follow me!"

They sprinted toward the opening, dodging the swinging axes.

Cat, who had been moving in wide-eyed panic, suddenly brightened. "Ohhh, it's like one of those obstacle courses on TV!"

Mari grabbed her wrist before she could stop and admire the death traps. "Do not make this a game right now, Cat!"

Raph shot Leo a wary look. "You don't really think we can trust them, do you?"

Leo's jaw tightened. "It's our only option."

Raph scowled. "And what do we do when they turn on us? Because they will turn on us."

Cat, breathless as she ducked under an axe, piped up. "Maybe this is, like, team bonding! Mutual suffering is the best way to make friends!"

Mari snorted. "Tell that to the people trying to kill us!"

Leo's grip tightened around his sword.

"We'll just have to trust that we'll see it coming first."

The tension in the air was thick as the group carefully navigated the maze, the dim glow of flickering lights casting eerie shadows across the metallic walls. Mari's eyes scanned their surroundings warily, her grip on her tanto tightening. Cat, on the other hand, was torn between nervous excitement and outright terror, her gaze darting around the shifting maze in awe.

Fishface's single eye glinted as he shot a look over his shoulder. "I have my eye on you, turtles."

Dogpound lifted his snout, inhaling deeply. "Fresh air." His voice was a low growl. "Coming from that direction."

Fishface smirked, gesturing toward the corridor ahead. "Uh, please, after you."

Leo narrowed his eyes. "No, no. You go ahead. I insist."

Fishface scoffed. "What's the matter? You don't trust me?"

Raph huffed, crossing his arms. "If you think we're gonna turn our backs to you, you're nuts."

Cat piped up, fidgeting slightly. "We don't have to trust each other, but we don't have to fight either. Maybe we can—"

"Absolutely not," Raph and Dogpound said in unison.

Cat pouted. "Jeez, tough crowd."

Mikey tapped his chin. "I know! We go like this—turtle, turtle, turtle, jerk, turtle, turtle, turtle, jerk." He paused, suddenly confused. "Wait, no. Jerk, turtle, jerk, jerk—no, too many jerks."

Mari rolled her eyes. "This is ridiculous."

Before anyone could comment—

CLANG.

The ceiling shifted.

With a mechanical hiss, four silver spheres dropped from above.

Blades shot out from their surfaces.

Leo's stomach twisted. "Balls!"

Mikey perked up. "Of doom?"

Leo's gaze hardened. "Of doom."

Dogpound took a wary step back. "What are those?"

Leo gritted his teeth. "Not good. Let's move it."

Fishface lunged forward. "Me first!"

"Doom balls!" Leo shouted. "Run!"

The group scattered as the bladed spheres whirred to life, spinning through the air with deadly precision.

One honed in on Mikey.

"Whoa—!" He ducked, flipping over it before smacking it back with his nunchucks. "Nope!"

Mari gritted her teeth and slashed one of the spheres mid-air with her tanto, but it only veered off course before correcting itself. "Great, they adapt."

The orbs adjusted their course, weaving through the air as they continued their pursuit.

"They're not stopping!" Donnie yelped, swinging his bo staff.

One of the spheres slammed into his weapon, locking onto it.

"Seriously?!" Donnie struggled, twisting the staff in an attempt to shake it off.

"Hold still!" Raph snapped.

He flicked a pair of shuriken toward the remaining orbs.

BOOM.

One exploded, but the others kept coming.

Cat yelped as one nearly clipped her, scrambling behind Raph. "This is so not how I thought a maze would go!"

Raph rolled his eyes. "Welcome to reality, princess."

Mari, dodging another attack, shot him a glare. "Less talking, more smashing!"

Fishface, seemingly having the time of his life, swiped at an orb with his tail, deflecting it toward Dogpound. The massive mutant growled and crushed it with a single punch.

"I hate this maze," Dogpound grumbled.

"We finally agree on something," Leo muttered, slicing another orb in half.

The last of the spheres exploded in a flash of sparks.

A moment of silence.

Then, Cat nervously peered around the room. "Soooo... is that the last of the traps?"

As if on cue, the floor beneath them rumbled.

"CAT!" Raph groaned. "Why would you say that?!"

The walls shifted, and a heavy metal door slammed down, separating them.

Raph and Cat stumbled back, now on one side of the divide—while the rest of the group stood on the other.

"Hey!" Raph banged on the wall. "Are you kidding me?!"

A crackling sound filled the air.

Then—

Stockman's voice rang out, gleeful and mocking. "Time to split you up!"

Cat's stomach twisted. She slowly turned toward Raph—then toward the only other person left on their side.

Fishface.

The mutant smirked. "Well, well, looks like it's just you two and me."

Cat gulped.

"Ohhhhhh boy."

Raph's fingers twitched over the handles of his sai as he shot a glare at Fishface. "I swear, if you breathe too loud, I'm throwing you through a wall."

Fishface smirked, far too amused. "Oh, please, by all means, try."

Cat, standing between them, let out an exhausted groan. "Could you two stop for, like, five seconds? We're already trapped in a death maze, let's not make it worse."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the barrier, Leo unsheathed his sword and swung at the wall.

The blade bounced off harmlessly.

Leo gritted his teeth. "No luck."

Stockman's voice crackled over the intercom, smug and mocking. "You're wasting your time, Leonardo. Those walls are magnetically sealed."

Donnie was already on it, pulling out his T-Phone.

Leo shot him a look. "I tried that already, Donnie. No signal."

Donnie didn't even glance up. "I know. I'm reconfiguring the T-phone's internal magnet so it can detect ambient A/C current."

Leo blinked.

"We can use it to trace our way back to Baxter." Donnie continued, fingers flying over the screen.

Leo nodded. "Alright. You two—keep Stinkman talking."

Mari, who had been silently observing, leaned toward Mikey. "This is gonna be painful, isn't it?"

Mikey grinned. "Oh yeah." He cupped his hands around his mouth. "Hey, Boxton!"

Stockman's groan practically rattled through the speakers. "It's Baxter!"

Mari rolled her eyes. "Great, now he's even more annoying."

As they continued down the winding corridor, Mikey placed his hands behind his head, feigning curiosity. "So, I was wondering... what made you interested in a career in super-villainy?"

Stockman sniffed. "Well, since you won't be around to read my autobiography, I suppose I'll tell you." His voice took on a theatrical tone. "I was a frail and delicately sensitive young child—"

Dogpound scoffed. "Well, there's a shock."

Mari side-eyed Donnie. "Do we have to let him talk?"

Stockman ignored them, voice growing dramatic. "That's when I decided to develop my greatest power—my technological genius!"

Mikey groaned. "Oh, good grief."

Mari crossed her arms. "I hate this maze."

Back with Raph's group, Cat looked between him and Fishface, nervously glancing at the shifting walls. "Uh... not to interrupt your bonding moment, but should we maybe start moving before Stockman tries to kill us again?"

Raph sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. But if he gets annoying, I'm throwing him through a wall."

Fishface chuckled. "The feeling is mutual, turtle."

Cat sighed. This was going to be a long night.

The tunnel stretched endlessly before them, dimly lit by flickering, malfunctioning lights. The silence between Raph, Fishface, and Cat was thick with tension, their footsteps echoing against the cold, metallic walls.

Cat, practically buzzing with nervous energy, glanced between the two. "Sooo... anyone wanna make small talk, or are we just gonna act like this isn't the most awkward team-up ever?"

Neither answered.

She huffed. "Okay. Love this."

Raph exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "The world's longest tunnel of doom."

As if on cue, a loud clang echoed behind them.

They all turned.

The door had slammed shut.

Fishface's eye narrowed. "What?"

Raph scowled. "We're trapped."

A low hum vibrated through the walls.

Then—

A sudden, violent rush of air.

Before either of them could react, Cat was ripped off her feet.

She barely had time to scream before the wind yanked her backward, straight toward the gaping void ahead.

"CAT!" Raph lunged, but the force of the suction was too strong.

Cat flailed, reaching desperately for something—anything—to grab onto. But there was nothing. Just cold, empty space.

Then—

One of the floor tiles beneath her broke loose.

She let out a sharp shriek as she plummeted downward.

Without thinking, Fishface shot a hand forward.

He caught her ankle just in time.

For a breathless second, Cat dangled over the abyss, the wind roaring in her ears.

Her wide eyes met Fishface's narrowed ones. His grip was tight, but his face remained unreadable.

Then, with a grunt, he hauled her up in one swift motion, flinging her to safety.

She crashed into Raph, who immediately steadied her.

Before she could even process what had happened, Fishface kicked through the flooring, sending all three of them tumbling into a darkened room below.

A moment passed.

Cat groaned, absolutely dazed. "I hate this place."

Raph let out a breath, then turned to Fishface, his expression torn between grudging respect and sheer disbelief.

"Well," he huffed, "saving my sister? That makes us even, huh, Fish Sticks?"

Fishface sneered, dusting himself off. "You think I'd let Baxter be the one to take her out?" His grin widened, teeth flashing. "Ha. That is a pleasure I am reserving for myself."

Raph scoffed, holding on tightly to Cat."Figures."

Elsewhere in the Maze

Stockman's voice continued to drone over the intercom, oblivious to the destruction unfolding in his so-called Maze of Doom.

"And I built a science fair volcano—but with actual molten lava. Burned down the whole gymnasium. I was expelled. And I vowed revenge on those who wronged me."

Mikey, eyes half-lidded, let out a dramatic sigh. "You poor, poor man."

Mari rolled her eyes. "This guy is the lamest villain ever."

Before Stockman could respond, a turret dropped from the ceiling, its barrel whirring to life.

"Turret!" Leo barked.

A bolt of plasma fired toward them.

Leo leaped onto the wall, using the momentum to slice straight through the turret's base. Sparks exploded as it crumpled to the floor.

"More incoming!" Donnie called, dodging another blast.

Mari's eyes flickered with quick analysis before she leaped, flipping midair and kicking one of the turrets into the wall. The metal cracked and sparked under the force of the impact.

Mikey spun his nunchucks, launching himself into a flip. "Aaaaand—boop!" He slammed his weapon into another turret, sending it skidding across the floor.

One by one, the turrets were destroyed.

As the dust settled, Donnie exhaled. "Okay, we really need to find a way out of here."

Mari crossed her arms. "You're the genius, Don. Work your magic."

Donnie rolled his eyes, already tapping at his T-Phone. "I'm working on it!"

Back in the Tunnel

The air was damp, thick with the scent of rust and mildew. Faulty lights flickered weakly against the walls, barely illuminating the path ahead.

Raph and Fishface walked in silence, tension heavy between them.

The only sounds were the occasional drip of water from cracked pipes and the faint hum of Stockman's distorted voice playing over the intercom in the distance.

Cat, still rattled from nearly being sucked into a bottomless pit, walked between them. She was hugging her arms, glancing nervously at the walls.

"Hey, uh... you sure this isn't gonna cave in or something?"

Fishface smirked. "What's the matter, gatita? Getting nervous?"

Cat scowled. "No, I just—"

Her foot hit a loose pipe, sending a loud clang echoing down the corridor. She immediately froze.

Fishface chuckled. "If you want to make more noise, you could just scream."

Cat huffed, glaring at him. "If something jumps out at me, then I'll scream."

Raph, ignoring them, glanced sideways at his unlikely companion.

Something nagged at him.

Finally, he spoke. "Tell me, Xever..."

Fishface's head snapped toward him in surprise.

Raph continued, "What's a nice fish like you doing with a guy like Shredder?"

For a second, Fishface just stared.

The way Raph had said his real name—not mockingly, not as an insult, but with genuine curiosity—caught him off guard.

Even Cat, usually chatty, stayed quiet, watching the exchange with wide eyes.

Fishface let out a low sigh, glancing ahead. "In many ways, it's all I've ever known."

Flashback.

A younger Xever Montes darted through the crowded streets, weaving between vendors and pedestrians. His hands gripped a stolen briefcase, his heart hammering against his ribs. The sound of shouting voices faded behind him.

He had been fast.

But not fast enough.

Rough hands grabbed him, yanking him backward. His breath caught as he was slammed against a brick wall, the weight of a dozen angry men surrounding him.

His luck had run out.

The authorities didn't care.

No one did.

He would have been left to rot in a cell.

But then—

A shadow loomed over him.

A figure with piercing eyes and a quiet, terrifying presence stepped forward.

Oroku Saki.

The owner of the stolen briefcase.

"Fortunately," Fishface continued, snapping back to the present, "the owner of that briefcase found my skills useful."

Raph's jaw tightened. "Shredder."

Fishface nodded. "Yes. And he employed me for many of the Foot's... dirtier jobs." He smirked, tilting his head. "Most recently? The destruction of you, your brothers, and your Sensei."

Cat, who had been listening quietly, blinked. "Wait, wait, wait—so you were, like... an actual criminal before turning into a giant fish?"

Fishface smirked. "Not just any criminal, gatita. The best."

Cat crossed her arms. "Well, you're not that great, considering you keep losing to us."

Fishface's grin faltered for a split second before he chuckled darkly. "You are lucky you amuse me, little one."

Raph snorted, nudging Cat's shoulder. "Careful, Short Stack. Keep talking like that, and he might actually take it personally."

Cat scoffed. "He should take it personally! His whole job is to beat us, and we keep handing him L's." She turned back to Fishface. "Maybe you should consider a career change."

Fishface rolled his eyes but didn't reply.

Raph, watching him closely, narrowed his eyes. "...So, you do all this because you owe Shredder?"

Fishface chuckled, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light. "Eh. Mostly, I like having a job where I get to crack skulls every day."

Raph snorted. "Okay. I can relate to that."

Fishface arched a brow. "See? We are of a kind, you and I."

Raph smirked. "Maybe."

Then he rolled his shoulders, cracking his knuckles.

"But I'm still gonna whip your butt when this is over."

Cat threw up her hands. "And I'll be cheering him on!"

The air was thick with smoke and the scent of scorched metal as the exhausted fighters staggered back, catching their breath. The maze had thrown everything at them—spinning axes, laser turrets, walls sealing them apart—and yet, they were still standing.

Barely.

A new turret emerged from the ceiling with a mechanical whirr.

Leo didn't hesitate.

With one clean strike, he sliced through the weapon, sending sparks flying.

That was the final straw.

Dogpound let out a furious growl, his patience snapping like a brittle twig.

"Skunkman!" he bellowed, voice echoing through the labyrinth. "I know you're in here somewhere!"

On the other side of the wall, Fishface twitched his head, his enhanced senses catching the distant shouting. His ears pressed against the cold metal.

Cat, standing beside him and Raph, perked up, eyes darting toward the sound. "Is that—?"

Fishface didn't wait. "Hey," he muttered, eyes narrowing. "That came from the next room."

Without hesitation, he reared back and slammed his foot into the barrier.

The wall crumpled beneath the force.

Dust and debris scattered as the two groups finally came face to face.

Mari, standing beside Leo, tensed at the sight of Cat standing with Raph and Fishface, but Cat barely had time to react before Raph nudged her forward, ensuring she stuck close.

Leo arched an eyebrow. "Enjoy your playdate?"

Raph snorted. "Ha. Very funny."

Donnie was already scanning the area, eyes darting toward a nearby cannon. "A strong ambient A/C current is coming from underneath this—"

Before he could finish, Dogpound stepped forward and ripped the cannon from its base.

The floor beneath them gave way.

The world flipped upside down as they plummeted into the depths of the lair.

Mari barely had time to grab onto Leo, while Raph instinctively pulled Cat toward him as they fell.

They landed hard in a dimly lit laboratory, the hum of machinery buzzing in the air.

A slow, sarcastic clap echoed through the room.

Stockman.

Stockman stood atop a high platform, grinning wildly. "No! You were supposed to destroy each other, not work together!" His fingers twitched against the control panel. "No matter. You may have made it to the end of my maze, but now it's time for—"

"The bonus round?" Mikey cut in.

Stockman scowled. "Yes, the bonus round of doom!"

Leo groaned. "Here we go again."

Stockman ignored them, pressing a series of flashing buttons. "Kneel before the awesome power of my monster—"

A massive suit of armor hissed and whirred to life, steam billowing from its joints.

"—OF DOOM!" Stockman cackled as he climbed into his mech, the heavy metal plating locking into place.

The Turtles and their unwilling allies exchanged a glance.

"Called it," Raph muttered.

"You all think you're so clever!" Stockman sneered from within the cockpit. "Let's see how clever you are when you're hit by my missiles—OF—"

He hesitated.

Then sighed.

"When you're hit by my missiles."

With a loud BOOM, he fired a barrage.

The room exploded into chaos.

The group scattered as the missiles detonated, shattering equipment and sending flames licking across the lab floor.

The mech's arms extended, firing dozens of Mouser bots into the fray.

The small, robotic creatures landed with mechanical snarls, their jaws snapping hungrily as they swarmed forward.

Snake-like robotic heads slithered from the mech's shoulders, their mouths glowing with pent-up laser energy.

Mari was already moving, cutting through one of the approaching Mousers with a sharp slice of her tanto. "Anyone got an actual plan here, or are we just improvising?"

"How do we stop this thing?!" Dogpound barked, batting a Mouser aside.

Leo's mind raced. "Mikey, Dogpound—draw it under Baxter!"

Stockman let out a scoff. "Ha! Nice try! But you'll have to be faster than that!"

Mikey grinned. "Oh, don't worry—speed's my specialty."

He zipped across the battlefield, narrowly dodging a swipe from one of the mechanical heads.

"Yoo-hoo! Monster of doom! We're over here!" he taunted.

Dogpound leapt into action, flanking the opposite side.

The mech twisted to follow them.

Cat, standing near Donnie, flinched as sparks rained from the ceiling. She turned to Donnie. "If you tell me there's no way to hack that thing, I will cry."

Donnie spun his bo staff, knocking a Mouser away. "I'm working on it!"

Leo's gaze snapped toward Raph and Fishface. "Now!"

The two barely exchanged a glance before launching forward.

"Ready?" Fishface growled.

"Three, two, one!" Raph called.

They lunged.

Raph's sai dug into the metal framework, while Fishface's powerful kick cracked the platform's base.

Mari, moving with precise speed, slashed her tanto across the nearest support cable, severing it in one clean stroke.

Sparks erupted.

Stockman barely had time to react before the entire structure shuddered violently.

"No! Stop helping each other!" he screeched.

Too late.

The support beneath him buckled, and with a deafening BOOM, the entire rig collapsed.

The mech's systems went haywire, its circuits sparking wildly. Fire erupted from the console as the suit convulsed.

Cat, gripping onto Donnie's arm for balance as the floor rumbled, stared at the scene in wide-eyed amazement. "That was so cool."

Donnie exhaled sharply. "Yeah, right up until the part where we get crushed."

The cockpit of the mech hissed open, smoke spilling out as Stockman wailed in frustration. "FOOLS! You haven't seen the last of Dexter—"

Silence.

Everyone blinked.

Stockman froze.

Mari's brow raised. "Dexter?"

Stockman cleared his throat, face twisting in horror. "Baxter Stockman!" he corrected, his voice cracking slightly.

Raph smirked. "Too late, Dexter."

Stockman scrambled to recover his dignity. "You—! You—!"

Then, without another word, he activated his jetpack.

He shot through the ceiling, disappearing into the night.

For a long moment, all that could be heard was the crackling of broken machinery.

Then—

Cat turned to the others, tilting her head. "Soooo... does this count as a win?"

The night air was cool against their skin as the Turtles finally emerged from the wreckage of Stockman's lair. The city skyline loomed above them, the distant hum of traffic a stark contrast to the chaos they had just endured.

They were exhausted.

Every step felt heavier.

Every breath came labored.

The fight had taken everything out of them.

Fishface cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. "The truce is over."

Dogpound snarled. "Let's finish this."

Mikey yawned mid-spin, barely managing to lift his nunchucks. "Booyaka—" Another yawn interrupted him, his entire body sagging. He wobbled on his feet before dropping face-first onto the pavement with an unceremonious thud.

Dogpound let out an amused grunt. "Ah, forget it. Next time."

With that, the two mutants turned and started walking away

Leo exhaled, watching them go. "That could've gone worse."

Mikey peeled himself off the ground, rubbing his eyes. "You know, Raph," he mumbled through another yawn, "you and Fishface actually made a pretty good team back there."

They started walking the other way

Raph scoffed. "Yeah? Well, he's still our enemy, Mikey." His voice was sharp. "And he'll take us out the first chance he gets."

Mikey frowned but didn't argue.

Because Raph was right.

Fishface didn't do favors.

And he definitely didn't form alliances.

A faint whizzing sound cut through the air.

Instinct kicked in.

Raph's hand shot out, sai raised—

CLANG!

His weapon intercepted a small, spherical object—one of Stockman's discarded laser shredder drones. The device crackled, its energy dispersing before it could reach its intended target.

Mari.

She had barely turned before the device had been inches from her back.

The realization hit hard, her heart slamming against her ribs. She stared at the disabled drone, then slowly lifted her gaze.

Raph turned, his grip on his sai tightening. His glare shot through the darkness, already knowing who had thrown it.

There, just beyond the streetlight's edge, stood Fishface.

His expression was unreadable.

A warning.

A challenge.

A reminder.

Cat sucked in a shaky breath, stepping closer to Mari as if she could shield her from another strike. "But... he just helped us," she whispered, confusion laced in her voice. "Why would he—?"

"Because that's what he does," Raph growled, rolling his shoulders.

Leo, standing rigid, kept his swords raised but didn't advance.

Fishface didn't move.

Didn't run.

Didn't smirk.

He just stood there for one long, agonizing moment before disappearing into the shadows.

Raph exhaled sharply, gripping his sai so tight his knuckles ached.

"Trust your senses." His eyes flicked back toward where Fishface had been. "You'll see 'em coming."

The Turtles stood in silence, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

This fight wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.