The dojo was silent, thick with anticipation. The six turtles stood in formation, their eyes locked on their master. Splinter, ever composed, watched them with an unreadable expression.

Leo took a steady breath. "Okay, here's the plan. Donnie, you're going to strike first."

Donnie's eyes widened. "Wait—me? You want me to come at Splinter?" He scoffed. "I'll get pummeled."

Raph smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Well, getting pummeled is your specialty."

Mari snorted. "You'd think by now, you'd be used to it."

Donnie shot them both a glare. "You guys are the worst."

Leo ignored them. "Trust me. It's all part of my plan to catch Splinter off-guard."

Mikey tilted his head, unconvinced. "Uh, Leo, don't take this the wrong way, but against Splinter, your plans always get our butts whipped."

Leo exhaled through his nose. "Okay, new thought. Mikey, you attack."

Mikey blinked. "He took it the wrong way."

Cat, who had been bouncing on her heels, raised a hand. "What about me? I'm fast. I can distract him."

Leo hesitated. "That could—actually work. Okay, Cat, you go in first. Keep him guessing."

Cat grinned.

Raph rolled his shoulders, cracking his knuckles. "Enough talk. Let's do this."

The moment the words left his mouth, the fight began.

Cat struck first, darting forward, her tessen snapping open with a sharp flick. She feinted to the right before spinning, aiming a strike toward Splinter's shoulder. He countered instantly, sidestepping her attack with ease before flipping her onto her back.

Before she even hit the ground, Mikey was already diving in. He attempted a high kick, but Splinter caught his leg mid-air and sent him flying across the mat.

Cat groaned, pushing herself up. "Okay, ow."

Donnie took advantage of the moment, swinging his bo staff. Splinter pivoted, dodging the strike before delivering a precise counter-kick, sending Donnie stumbling straight into Raph.

Mari was next. She darted low, attempting to sweep Splinter's legs, but he sidestepped fluidly. She barely caught herself before rolling away, narrowly avoiding a counterstrike.

Leo watched for his moment. When he saw his siblings falter, he moved in, precise and controlled. He dodged Splinter's first strike and countered, his fist moving faster than even he expected. His knuckles barely made contact—a light tap against Splinter's cheek.

Time seemed to freeze.

Leo's heart plummeted. His stomach twisted with horror. "Ah! Sensei, I'm sorry—"

Before he could finish, Splinter shifted, using Leo's hesitation against him. In a blur, he knocked Leo off balance, pinning him to the floor with practiced ease.

From the sidelines, Donnie winced. "Oh, man. Leo's a goner."

Mikey shook his head dramatically. "Oh, nodie dodie."

Raph gave a short laugh. "Not bad."

Mari leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Yeah, you landed a hit, but then you hesitated. Classic Leo."

Cat, still rubbing her sore shoulder, huffed. "Man, I was so close to hitting him. One of these days, I'm gonna get him."

Splinter studied Leo for a long moment before finally releasing him, stepping back with a nod. "Well done, Leonardo. But just when you had the advantage, you hesitated, and that made you vulnerable."

Leo quickly scrambled to his feet, bowing in respect. "Hai, Sensei."

Splinter regarded them all. "That is all for today. Unless you care for a rematch?"

Donnie immediately shook his head. "No, thanks."

Mikey waved his hands. "I'm good."

Raph huffed. "Yeah, I think we're all set here."

Mari groaned, rolling her shoulder. "Yeah, I'm calling it."

Cat smirked, despite her sore muscles. "I'd be down for another round."

Mari raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

Cat quickly backtracked. "Okay, no, I take it back, my everything hurts."

Splinter gave a small nod before turning, retreating into his quarters.

The moment the door closed, Mikey spun toward Leo, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Dude! The hand that punched Splinter." He grabbed Leo's wrist, holding it up like a trophy. "You can never wash this again."

Leo pulled his hand back with a grimace. "I'm definitely washing it."

Donnie shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe you actually tagged Sensei. That was epic."

"I gotta say, guys," Leo admitted, catching his breath. "It was all teamwork. We are definitely getting better."

Mari crossed her arms. "Think we might be catching up to Splinter?"

Mikey nodded. "Yeah, maybe soon, we won't need him to train us at all."

Unbeknownst to them, just beyond the door, Splinter stood in silence, his expression unreadable. He had heard every word.

And something in his chest twisted.

A sharp, pained cry echoed through the lair.

The turtles froze.

For a split second, no one moved—then, instinct took over.

Without hesitation, they rushed into the dojo, weapons at the ready.

Splinter was hunched over, gripping his head. His entire body trembled, his breath ragged.

Donnie's concern flared. "Sensei, are you okay?"

Splinter straightened, his expression unreadable. "I am fine."

Leo frowned, stepping closer. "Are you sure? You don't seem—"

Before he could finish, Donnie's phone buzzed, blaring April's custom ringtone.

Raph and Mikey immediately broke into exaggerated kissy faces, grinning mischievously.

Cat clasped her hands together with an exaggerated sigh. "Aw, Donnie, your true love calls!"

Donnie scowled, shoving them aside with a glare before answering in a flustered rush.

Mari, arms crossed, rolled her eyes so hard she nearly gave herself a headache. "Oh, great. Here we go again," she muttered.

"H-Hey, April! I mean—uh, hey, April." Donnie cringed at himself. "I mean—"

April's voice cut him off, tight with urgency. "Donnie, stop talking. I need some help. I'm having a little bit of a pest problem."

That got their attention.

Leo immediately straightened, exchanging a look with Raph.

Mikey tilted his head. "Like... mutant pest problem or regular rat problem?"

A loud, distant crash echoed through the phone.

April hissed, clearly trying to keep her voice steady. "Does an entire swarm of rats trying to eat me alive count as regular?"

Cat paled. "Ohhh, nope. Nope, nope, nope, NOPE—"

Mari, unimpressed, crossed her arms.

Leo didn't waste any more time. "Let's move!"

And with that, they sprinted toward the exit.

Outside, the city stretched beneath the afternoon sun, its towering buildings glinting against the sky. Normally, it would have been a peaceful sight.

Except for the thousands of writhing, skittering bodies swarming the streets.

The turtles moved swiftly across the rooftops, the warm light casting long shadows as they leaped from building to building.

Mikey whistled. "Wow. The city is kinda beautiful in the daytime." His eyes flicked downward. "...Except for the, y'know, billions of rats."

Cat gasps. "B-Billions?! Oh no. Nope. I hate this. I HATE this!"

Mari, perched beside Raph, smirked. "You're afraid of rats too? Our father is a rat!"

"He's the exception," Cat muttered.

"Next you're gonna say you're afraid of turtles," Raph muttered.

"Well—"

Raph snacked her before she could say it.

"Don't worry, Cat," Donnie says, "the entire rat population of New York is only about thirty-six million, which—"

Raph shot him a glare. "I will smack you out of your shell."

Leo, scanning ahead, suddenly stiffened. "Uh, guys? We may have a problem."

They skidded to a stop at the edge of the rooftop and peered down.

A sea of writhing, chittering rats swarmed the street below.

Right where April clung to an electrical pole, her eyes wide with sheer horror.

Mikey grinned. "Oh, rats. Get it?"

Raph deadpanned. "For the fourteenth time—yes."

Mari sighed, rubbing her temple. "We need to have a serious conversation about your joke quota."

Ignoring them, Donnie cupped his hands around his mouth. "We're coming, April! Don't go anywhere!"

April, gripping the pole tighter, shot back, "Where could I possibly go?!"

Leo, Mari and Raph were the first to swing down, using their grappling hooks to latch onto the pole. Mikey, Cat and Donnie followed, carefully climbing down.

Mari pulled out her tanto, looking skeptical. "What's the plan here, exactly? You're just gonna grab her and hope the rats don't turn her into a buffet?"

Cat took one look at the swarming masses below and gagged. "I... I can't. I can't do this. I'm not built for this. I was built for shopping, sparkly things, and—AND NOT THIS!"

"Cat," Mari said flatly, "you are literally a ninja."

Raph grimaced as the rats clawed and swarmed beneath them. "These stupid rats are really starting to get on my nerves."

Donnie, ever the encyclopedia, huffed. "Rats aren't stupid. Despite their small brain size, they're remarkably—"

A rat dropped onto his head.

"OW!" He flailed, nearly losing his grip.

Leo shot him a pointed look. "I warned you. Raph, put down the rat and keep climbing."

April, still clinging to the pole, looked increasingly panicked. "Hurry!"

The structure beneath them groaned. The rats weren't just swarming—they were biting into the base, gnawing through the wood like tiny saws.

Mari narrowed her eyes. "Oh, that's disgusting—"

And then—

CRACK.

The pole tilted.

April let out a sharp scream as she lost her grip.

Donnie moved on pure instinct, lunging. "Gotcha!"

He caught her just in time, holding onto the pole with one arm while the other secured her.

April exhaled shakily. "Okay, I appreciate you guys coming to help, but how is this better than getting eaten by rats?"

Mikey, ever the optimist, grinned. "At least it'll be quick. With rats, they chew and chew and chew and—"

"OKAY, WE GET IT." April glared.

"Let's move. Hurry!" Leo barked.

They scrambled, clawing their way up as fast as they could.

But before they could reach the top—

CRACK.

The pole snapped.

They screamed as they were flung through the air.

"NO NO NO NO—!" Cat wailed.

They hit the rooftop hard, tumbling across the surface. The pole crashed below, crushing hundreds of rats beneath it.

For a long moment, silence.

Then, the remaining rats let out a sharp, high-pitched screech and scattered.

"Chew on that, rat finks!" Mikey says. "Oh, come on. That sounded cool."

April groaned. "Does anyone know what the heck is going on?"

Donnie sat up, adjusting his mask. "I'm not sure. But whatever it is, this attack was extremely well coordinated. Obviously, there's a higher intelligence at work here."

Raph snorted. "Well, that rules out Mikey."

Mikey gasped in mock offense. "Rude!"

Donnie shot him a look. "I'm serious. Someone—or something—is controlling every rat in the city."

Mari crossed her arms. "Oh great. Another someone or something. Because that always works out in our favor."

Cat, still sprawled on the ground, groaned. "We are never getting the smell of rats off us."

Raph frowned. "Wait a sec. Every rat?"

Leo's stomach twisted.

"That means that Splinter could be—"

The lair was eerily silent as the six turtles and April rushed inside. Their footsteps barely echoed against the cool stone floor.

And then—they saw him.

Splinter lay on his back, his body unnaturally still.

April's breath hitched. "Is he okay?"

Raph's usual bravado faltered. He turned to Donnie. "You're the smart one. What do we do?"

Donnie hesitated, scanning Splinter's motionless form. "Uh... Maybe we should poke him."

Leo nodded. "Good idea. Mikey, poke him."

Mikey gawked at him. "No way! I'm not poking him. You poke him."

Cat clung to Mari's arm, looking like she wanted to be anywhere but here. "Don't look at me. What if he's, like, possessed or something?"

Mari rolled her eyes, peeling Cat off of her. "He's not possessed, drama queen." She smirked. "

Leo crossed his arms. "Okay, we'll put it to a vote."

Without hesitation, all five siblings answered in unison.

"Mikey."

Mikey groaned. "I want a recount."

Mari smirked. "Too bad, democracy wins."

Donnie handed Mikey his bo staff. "Fine. Just—easy, easy. Careful not to squeeze the—"

The staff's hidden blade activated with a sharp snap.

The group collectively screamed and jumped back.

Mikey yelped, dropping the bo like it had burned him.

Cat screeched and practically vaulted over Mari, using her as a human shield. "HE'S GONNA WAKE UP MAD AND KILL US."

Mari shoved her off with an annoyed grunt. "Relax, he hasn't even moved."

Donnie snatched his bo back and shut off the blade before promptly shoving it back into Mikey's hands. "Okay. Let's try it from the other end."

Mikey gave him a betrayed look but sighed, gripping the weapon. He inched forward, hands shaking as he extended the bo.

With exaggerated caution, he gave Splinter a small poke.

Silence.

Another poke.

Splinter didn't move.

Mikey relaxed slightly. "Whoa. He is totally out of it." He leaned closer, squinting. "Dudes, check out the nose nuggets—"

Without warning, Splinter jerked upright, his eyes wide and clouded.

Mikey barely had time to yelp before an unseen force hurled him across the room.

April and Donnie barely ducked in time to avoid being flattened. Mari shoved Cat down instinctively, barely dodging Mikey's flying form.

Mikey hit the ground with a thud.

"...children..." he groaned weakly.

The turtles scrambled toward Splinter as he clutched his head, his entire body trembling.

Leo knelt beside him. "Sensei, are you okay?"

Splinter's voice was strained, his breath uneven. "No, Leonardo. I am not." He exhaled shakily. "It would appear that your former adversary, Dr. Falco, has returned."

Donnie's stomach dropped. "Falco's behind this? How is that possible?"

Splinter's grip on his head tightened. "Somehow... he has acquired a telepathic connection with every rat in New York." His gaze darkened. "And he now calls himself... the Rat King."

Mikey groaned from the floor. "Oh, great. So now we're just letting bad guys name themselves? We gotta take him down."

Mari crossed her arms. "I knew this city was crawling with freaks, but mind-controlling rats? That's a new one."

Splinter nodded grimly. "Yes, Michelangelo. You do. The Rat King will not rest until he has total control of this city... and my mind."

Cat swallowed hard. "That's... not terrifying at all."

Leo clenched his fists. "Sensei..."

Splinter's voice wavered. "Everything I knew is gone." His fingers trembled as they curled into fists. "My wife. My daughter. My clan. Even my humanity." His eyes softened as he looked at them. "You six are all I have left."

The weight of his words settled heavily in the room.

Raph's jaw tightened. He took a step forward, his voice firm. "Don't you worry, Sensei. We'll stop him."

Donnie adjusted his bo staff, determination flickering in his eyes. "But we gotta find him first."

Splinter shut his eyes for a moment, focusing. "When the Rat King attempted to take control of me... I could see into his mind." He exhaled. "You will find his lair in an abandoned utility junction beneath Herald Square."

Raph cracked his knuckles. "Let's go play exterminator."

But before they could move, Splinter suddenly cried out in pain, doubling over.

Leo grabbed his shoulders, panic flashing across his face. "Fight him, Sensei!"

Splinter's entire body tensed as he battled the unseen force in his mind. His breaths came in short, ragged gasps. "I will... Just hurry."

April's eyes flickered with concern before she took a step forward. "It's okay, guys. You go after the Rat King." She knelt beside Splinter, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'll stay with Sensei."

The sewer tunnels stretched ahead, dark and foreboding. The air was thick with the damp scent of stagnant water and something else—something unnatural lurking beneath the surface.

Mari wrinkled her nose. "I swear, I hate this place."

Mikey shot her a teasing grin. "What, too fancy for a little sewer adventure, Princess?"

Mari shoved him. "No, I just don't wanna die surrounded by rats."

Cat let out a dramatic whimper, clutching onto Donnie's arm. "This is literally my worst nightmare."

"Shut up, Cat," Raph said.

"What's gonna happen to Splinter if we can't stop the Rat King?" Mikey huffed. "Which, by the way? Lamest villain name ever."

Donnie sighed. "Let it go already."

Raph scowled, keeping his fists clenched as he walked. "We're going to stop the Rat King, and Splinter's gonna be fine." He shot a glance at Leo. "Right, Leo?"

Before Leo could answer, a small mouse scurried across the damp stone ahead.

Cat let out a strangled squeak and scrambled behind Mari. "I'm tapping out. Officially. We're gonna die."

Mari rolled her eyes. "It's one mouse, Cat. You survived being kidnapped, you can handle—"

A low, distant chittering filled the air.

Then—movement.

A wave of writhing, squealing bodies surged forward, spilling into the tunnel like a living tide.

Raph's lips curled in disgust. "You gotta be kidding."

Mikey opened his mouth. "Aw, ra—"

Raph slapped a hand over his face. "Do not."

Cat's soul left her body. "NOPE. NOPE. I QUIT. I RESIGN FROM NINJA DUTIES."

Mari grabbed her by the back of her shell before she could bolt in the opposite direction. "RUN, idiot!"

The rats swarmed, their beady eyes glinting in the dim sewer light, their tiny claws scraping against the stone walls.

Donnie swallowed hard. "Uh, Leo? Any ideas?"

Leo didn't hesitate. "Just one. Move!"

The turtles bolted.

The rats pursued, their movements unnervingly synchronized, like one massive, singular entity.

The team ran full speed down the tunnel, but the swarm was relentless. No matter how fast they moved, the rats closed in.

Leo's sharp eyes darted around, searching for an escape—anything to put distance between them and the stampede of vermin.

Then—pipes.

"Up there!" he shouted.

Without wasting a second, the turtles leapt, gripping onto the rusted overhead pipes and hoisting themselves out of reach.

Below them, the rats cascaded through the tunnel, a frenzied river of claws and teeth.

Mikey let out a very undignified yelp as a rat latched onto his head.

"OH NO, THEY'VE GOT THE TASTE FOR TURTLE NOW!" He flailed wildly, shaking it off.

Cat, barely holding onto the pipe, was trembling so hard she nearly slipped. "If one touches me—just one—I am setting everything on fire."

Donnie, adjusting his grip, sighed. "You don't have fire powers, Cat."

"I will find a way."

Mari rolled her eyes but tightened her hold on Cat's arm, keeping her steady.

Leo gritted his teeth, muscles straining as he inched forward along the pipes. "Come on—just keep moving."

One by one, the turtles carefully navigated the narrow piping, the rat horde still swarming below.

The tunnels stretched on, the damp air thick with tension. The closer they got to the Rat King's lair, the stronger the scent of decay and filth became.

Cat wrinkled her nose, covering her mouth. "This is actually worse than I imagined."

Mari, walking ahead of her, rolled her shoulders. "This guy really lives in this? Disgusting."

Mikey, of course, was still talking.

"I'm just saying, I can think of a million better names than 'The Rat King.'" He started counting on his fingers. "There's Ratzilla, the Verminator, Lord Rattington—"

Cat, despite her horror, gave a weak laugh. "Okay, Lord Rattington is kinda good."

Leo sighed, exasperated. "Can it, Mikey. We're almost there."

Ahead of them loomed a solid wall, their only barrier between them and the utility chamber. But something was off.

Raph narrowed his eyes. "Uh... you mean that disgusting, furry, squirming wall?"

The turtles froze.

Thousands of rats clung to the stone surface, writhing over each other in a sickening mass. Their bodies shifted, moved as one, a living, breathing barricade of vermin.

Cat's hands clenched into fists. "Nope. No. I'm out."

Mari muttered under her breath, shaking her head. "I hate this place."

Donnie swallowed hard. "How are we supposed to get past that?"

Leo's gaze flicked to the side. "Raph. Those barrels."

Raph followed his line of sight, spotting the rusted canisters stacked nearby.

Leo's meaning was clear.

Raph grinned. "You got it."

With a quick flick of his wrist, he sent a pair of shuriken slicing through the air. The barrels split open, thick, slick liquid spilling across the floor.

Donnie's eyes widened in horror. "Uh, Leo? You do realize those chemicals are highly combustible?"

Leo drew his katana. "You don't say."

Mari smirked. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."

Without hesitation, Leo slashed through an exposed wire.

Sparks flew.

The tunnel erupted in an explosion of flame and heat, sending a deafening roar through the underground. The rats screeched, the fire tearing through their ranks, scattering what remained into the shadows.

Cat pressed against the wall, trying to make herself as small as possible. "I really hope Splinter doesn't ask what we did."

Mikey patted her shell. "Don't worry. We'll say Donnie did it."

Donnie shot him a glare. "Oh, I did it?!"

Leo sheathed his swords. "Let's move."

They found the lair moments later.

The air was thick with rot and the distant sound of scurrying feet. The chamber stretched wide, pipes jutting out from the walls, dripping sewage into the murky depths below.

Mari's hand hovered over her weapons. "Whatever comes out of this, I'm gonna beat it to death."

And there, waiting for them—was him.

A thin, skeletal figure stood among the filth, draped in tattered rags. A white rat perched on his shoulder, beady eyes gleaming.

The Rat King.

"Ah," he drawled, his voice smooth, calculating. "My turtle friends. We meet again."

Raph scoffed, crossing his arms. "Yeah, except last time, Falco, you weren't wearing a sad Halloween costume."

The Rat King's lips curled into a sinister smile. "I am the Rat King."

Mikey barely held back a snort. "Lame."

Cat wrinkled her nose. "It's so lame. Like, was 'Lord of the Sewer Rats' already taken?"

Mari stood slightly behind the others, arms crossed, her glare unwavering. "Yeah? Well, you look like you crawled out of a dumpster."

The Rat King barely acknowledged them, but the amusement in his expression lingered.

Leo stepped forward, weapons at the ready. "Sorry, we don't have any treats for you." His grip tightened. "But we've got a few tricks."

Raph smirked. "Nice one, Leo."

Before anyone could respond, Donnie's phone buzzed in his belt.

"Uh—" He fumbled to answer. "April? Now's really not the best time."

April's voice was urgent. "Donnie, it's Splinter. He's gone."

Donnie's breath caught. "What do you mean, 'gone'? Gone where?'"

A cold, unfamiliar voice answered.

"Here."

The turtles turned just as a shadow stepped into the dim light.

Splinter.

But—not the Splinter they knew.

His body was tense, his eyes distant, unfocused. He stood rigid, his expression eerily blank.

Like a puppet waiting for strings to be pulled.

Mari's fists clenched. "Oh, hell no."

Cat took a cautious step back, her usual energy drained by sheer unease. "Something's wrong. I really don't like this."

The turtles stiffened, dread settling in their stomachs.

Leo took a shaky step forward. "Sensei?"

Donnie's face twisted in disbelief. "It's like his brain is completely turned off."

Mikey huffed. "You mean like me?" He shot a glare at the others before they could answer. "Dude, so predictable."

Leo ignored them, his voice urgent. "Sensei, snap out of it!"

For a second—a split second—Splinter's eyes flickered.

Mari noticed. "He's still in there!"

But then, the Rat King smirked.

"You waste your words," he murmured. "This is where he belongs. With his brothers."

The turtles' blood ran cold.

Rat King's voice dripped with amusement. "Imagine my delight when I realized that controlling your master would not only make me invincible—but would also be the key to your demise."

He tilted his head.

"Splinter." His voice was a command. "Destroy them."

Splinter moved.

Leo's breath hitched. "Sensei, DON'T!"

For a fraction of a second—just a second—Splinter hesitated.

Cat saw it too. "Guys—he's fighting it!"

But then, the Rat King removed his bandages, revealing his ghastly, corpse-like face.

Splinter's entire body jerked as if pulled by unseen strings.

And then—

He attacked.

Leo barely had time to react before a blindingly fast strike sent him flying backward.

The others scattered.

Mari flipped midair, landing in a crouch, her eyes blazing with disbelief. "Are we really doing this?!"

Donnie scrambled to his feet beside her, gripping his bo staff. "We have to! But how—?"*

Raph clenched his fists, his stance solid. "Remember, we did beat him once."

Mikey winced. "Kinda."

Cat clutched her tessen tightly, her hands trembling. "Not really."

Leo gritted his teeth, forcing himself up. His hands shook, but his voice was firm. "We can beat him again."

He took a steadying breath, shoving the fear aside.

"Do not hesitate. Take Sensei down."

Splinter moved like a shadow—too fast, too precise, his strikes overwhelming.

Donnie barely had time to lift his bo staff before a sharp crack rang out, the weapon knocked clean from his grip. His heart pounded. He'd sparred with Splinter hundreds of times, but this—this was something else.

His stomach turned. "I just had a horrible realization."

"Not now, Donnie!" Mari snapped, flipping her tanto into a reverse grip.

"He's been going easy on us all these years." The weight of the words settled over them.

Cat let out a nervous laugh. "Oh, awesome, let's just process that while we're dying—"

"Move!" Leo barked as Splinter attacked again.

Donnie leapt back, barely dodging as Splinter closed the distance with impossible speed.

Mari was next.

She ducked low, her tanto slicing upward in a quick, sharp motion—aiming for a non-lethal spot, trying to disarm, not harm. But Splinter anticipated it. He caught her wrist, twisting just enough to disarm her before delivering a brutal counterstrike to her ribs.

Mari gasped as the air was knocked from her lungs, pain exploding through her side.

"Mari!" Cat was already moving, her tessen snapping open in a blur of steel.

She aimed for his blind spot, using her speed and agility to stay ahead of his counters. She flipped over his sweeping kick, spinning midair as she launched a razor-sharp fan toward his shoulder.

Splinter caught it mid-flight.

"No way—" Cat barely finished before she was yanked forward.

Splinter grabbed her arm, twisting her momentum against her. She barely had time to react before he sent her flying—straight into Mari, who was just getting back up.

They hit the ground in a heap.

"That's it!" Mikey yelled, charging in full-speed.

"Mikey, wait!" Donnie warned.

Too late.

Mikey lashed out with his kusari-fundo, the chain snapping toward Splinter's legs. If he could trip him, stall him for even a second—

Splinter sidestepped.

Mikey barely had time to yelp before Splinter yanked the chain, sending Mikey spinning like a top before slamming him into the ground.

"Okay, that hurt." Mikey groaned.

Raph lunged next, rage in his eyes. "Nobody throws them around but me!"

Splinter pivoted—grab, slam.

"Shell!" Raph choked as he hit the floor.

"Sensei, please!" Leo's voice was desperate as he met Splinter's eyes.

Splinter didn't hesitate.

Neither could Leo.

He moved fast, blocking the first strike. He ducked the second. The third barely missed. But the fourth—

Leo wasn't fast enough.

Splinter disarmed him with a single, fluid motion. Leo's katanas clattered against the stone. Before he could recover, Splinter struck.

Leo barely had time to gasp before he was pinned, struggling against the iron grip.

Leo gasped for air, chest heaving.

"We can break this," he rasped. "We just have to reach him!"

Splinter steadied himself, eyes clouded, fists clenched.

The Rat King growled. "No." His power pulsed through the room. "You. Are. MINE."

Splinter froze—caught between the control and his own will.

For one agonizing second, the turtles didn't know if he would come back to them—or destroy them completely.

Leo's swords lay forgotten, sent skidding across the floor. His chest heaved, his arms ached, but he refused to fall.

Splinter loomed over him, his shadow stretching long in the dim light.

Leo forced his voice to remain steady. "Wait!"

The Rat King smirked. "Finish him."

Leo's breath caught.

But he didn't back down.

"Remember who you are, Hamato Yoshi." His voice was raw, desperate. "Donnie, Raph—now!"

With what little strength they had left, Donnie and Raph lunged. They tackled Splinter, gripping his arms, struggling to hold him back.

"Please, father." Leo's voice wavered. "We need you."

Splinter tensed, his body still locked in the Rat King's grip.

The Rat King laughed, low and cruel. "You waste your words. He is mine now."

But before he could tighten his hold—before Splinter could slip further into the darkness—

A flash of yellow and pink moved.

Mari struck first.

Her tanto glinted, slicing cleanly—not to wound, but to break the illusion. A shallow cut along Splinter's arm—a tether to reality. A shock of pain to remind him of who he was.

Cat wasn't far behind.

She flipped over his head, tessen snapping open in a blur of steel and wind. With a sharp, calculated strike, she slammed the blunt edge into the pressure point at the base of his neck.

A desperate attempt.

A risk.

A plea.

Splinter's entire body jerked.

His breath came sharply.

His fingers twitched.

His movements—once unnatural, controlled—stilled.

And then—

His eyes cleared.

His gaze found his children. Their bruised forms. Their desperate stances. Their unwavering determination.

They weren't attacking him.

They were fighting for him.

And in that moment—

The control snapped.

Splinter exhaled.

A slow, steady breath.

His voice, strong and certain, rang through the lair.

"My place is with my children."

And then, with a force that was entirely his own, he struck.

A powerful, controlled strike sent the Rat King flying.

A deafening screech filled the air.

The rats—the twisted, frenzied horde—turned.

Against him.

The Rat King staggered, eyes widening—not with fury—but with something dangerously close to fear.

His own creations swarmed, engulfing him in an avalanche of writhing bodies, dragging him deep into the tunnels.

His screams vanished into the darkness.

And then—silence.

The battle was over.

The lair, once filled with chaos, was eerily still.

Mikey let out a long breath, rubbing his sore shoulder. "And that's the last we'll see of Count Ratula." He smirked, despite the exhaustion in his eyes. "Yeah, all right. It's Rat King. But I'm naming the next one."

Splinter stood in the center of them all, his breath heavy.

Then, his eyes softened.

"My children." His voice was filled with something rare—something unshaken. "You fought bravely."

Leo, still catching his breath, managed a small smile. "We learned from the best."

Donnie pushed his glasses up, exhaling in relief. "Technically, we learned while getting beat up by the best—"

Mari elbowed him lightly. "Shut up, Don."

Cat, still gripping her tessen, shifted uncertainly. Her voice, small but steady, broke through the quiet. "Are you... are you okay, Sensei?"

Splinter turned to her.

For a moment, the exhaustion in his expression melted away.

He gently rested a hand on her head, his touch light but warm.

"Thanks to all of you." His gaze swept over them—his sons, his daughters. His family. "I am home."

The candles flickered, casting warm light against the stone walls, their glow steady and familiar.

Splinter sat at the center, calm, composed—himself again.

But Leo still watched him carefully, concern etched into his face. "Sensei... are you sure you're okay?"

Splinter's gaze softened. "I am fine, thanks to you all." He reached out, resting a firm but gentle hand on Leo's shoulder. "You did well, my son."

Leo hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well... you did hesitate. And hesitation leads to vulnerability."

Splinter's whiskers twitched in amusement.

Mikey beamed. "We did pretty good, too, huh?" He nodded at his own words. "Yes."

Mari crossed her arms, raising a brow. "Yeah, pretty sure I stabbed the mind control out of you."

Raph smirked, elbowing her. "Yeah, yeah. You get one cool moment."

Cat was quieter, fingers fidgeting against her lap. "...You're really okay, though?" She met Splinter's eyes. "You're not just saying that?"

Splinter turned his gaze to her, his expression softening further. He reached over, gently resting a hand atop her head. "I am here, my daughter. Truly."

She let out a small, relieved breath, nodding.

Splinter's gaze swept across them all—his sons, his daughters. His family. "I am proud of you all."

Leo chuckled. "Who knows? Maybe one day, we'll be even better martial artists than you."

A sly smirk crossed Splinter's face.

"Remember, my son..."

In a blink, he moved.

Before anyone could react, Splinter flipped Leo clean over his shoulder.

Leo barely had time to yelp before crashing into the wall with a dull thud.

The room went silent.

Then—

Mikey grinned. "Oh-ho, that was awesome."

Raph snorted. "Took him down like a chump."

Donnie shook his head, smirking. "Scientific observation: Sensei still wins."

Mari and Cat, meanwhile, were losing it.

Cat giggled so hard she nearly toppled off her seat, while Mari clutched her stomach. "Pfft—Leo, you good over there?"

Leo groaned, peeling himself off the wall. "Yeah." He shot Splinter a half-hearted glare. "I'm fine."

Splinter, ever composed, stood over him, voice calm. "Everything you know, I have shown you..."

Then, he smirked.

"But I have not shown you everything I know."