The dojo echoed with the rhythmic sound of sparring as Leo and Raph moved in sync, trading blows and testing each other's reflexes. The tension was thick, each strike met with equal resistance—until Donnie strode in, holding a small bowl filled with what looked like ordinary eggs.

"Check it out, guys. We are about to take our ninjutsu to a whole new level," Donnie announced, his voice brimming with excitement.

Mari, sitting cross-legged on the floor sharpening her tanto, barely looked up. "If it doesn't involve me punching something, I don't care."

Leo dodged a jab from Raph before countering with a swift knock to his brother's arm. "Cool," he said without missing a beat.

Donnie huffed. "Last night, I figured out how to make ninja smoke bombs!"

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed one to the ground. Instantly, a burst of purple smoke erupted around him. When the haze cleared, he stood between Raph and Leo, a triumphant grin on his face.

Raph blinked. "Huh."

Cat, lounging on the couch, perked up. "Ohhh, that was actually kinda cool."

Donnie launched into an explanation. "Now, to make 'em, I carefully drill two holes in an eggshell without cracking it, slowly blow out the contents, wait for the inside to dry, then pour in flash powder and seal both holes with wax."

Raph's eyes glazed over halfway through. "Blah, blah, science, blah. Just do it again!"

Mari snorted. "He lost me at 'carefully.'"

Donnie frowned. "What I'm trying to tell you guys is, they take a long time to make, so use them sparingly."

Before anyone could respond, Mikey strolled in from the kitchen, balancing a bowl in one hand, his face alight with enthusiasm.

"I'm making breakfast! Who wants omelets?"

Donnie's stomach dropped. "Omelets? Mikey, don't—"

An explosion cut him off. Smoke curled through the air as Mikey emerged from the cloud, black soot smeared across his face. He held up his bowl, his expression caught somewhere between confusion and wonder.

"Uh... I think that was a rotten egg."

Leo burst out laughing.

Mari coughed through the smoke. "Ugh, it smells like Cat's cooking."

"Hey!" Cat pouted. "I follow recipes! Sometimes."

Donnie groaned. "Those aren't eggs, Mikey. They're ninja smoke bombs."

Mikey's eyes widened. "Shut up." Then, with a delighted grin, he grabbed one and vanished into a puff of smoke.

From across the room, his voice rang out. "This is the best day of my life!"

"Mikey, stop!" Donnie yelled, whirling around.

Mikey reappeared behind him, throwing an arm around Donnie's shoulders. "I love you, man. Seriously."

Before Donnie could shove him off, April rushed into the room, breathless.

"Guys! You'll never believe what happened to me."

Cat, sensing drama, immediately sat up. "Ooooh, storytime?"

Donnie's demeanor instantly shifted. "April, calm down. Are you okay?"

April took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I am being hunted by a giant pigeon!"

Silence.

Then Raph let out a loud bark of laughter. "I can't be the only one who finds that funny."

Leo and Mikey shot him identical glares. Mari smirked but didn't comment. Cat, on the other hand, shuddered.

"Ew, birds. They have creepy little feet."

Donnie bristled. "It's not funny, Raph. There's a creature out there trying to hurt my April. Our April. April."

Mikey's face was unusually serious. "This is serious. I'd better get Splinter."

Leo sighed. "We don't really need—"

But before he could finish, Mikey vanished in a swirl of smoke. A second later, he was gone. In his place, standing tall and composed, was Splinter.

The old rat folded his hands behind his back. "Michelangelo said you wanted to see me?"

April sat on the couch, her arms crossed as she recounted the terrifying encounter, her voice still laced with adrenaline.

"His talons were razor sharp," she said, shaking her head. "He would have torn me to pieces if he hadn't slammed into the glass."

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

Raph snorted. "Really? Just me?"

Leo shot him a look, but it was too late. The damage was done.

Mari smirked, but a sharp glance from Leo made her stifle it.

Splinter sighed, his tone reprimanding. "Raphael. Clearly, April is upset."

Mikey nodded solemnly. "Yeah, dude, that's so insensitive. Do you need a tissue?"

April blinked. "I think I'm okay."

Mikey teleported in a puff of purple smoke. When he reappeared a second later, his expression was blank. "We don't have any tissues. Can I make you some soup?"

Before he could teleport again, Donnie grabbed him by the bandana and yanked him back. "Stop it!"

Mikey huffed but stayed put.

Donnie turned back to April, his voice firm with reassurance. "Don't worry, April. We won't let anything happen to you."

Leo nodded. "Donnie's right. We're going to set a trap for this pigeon-man and make sure he never bothers you again."

Donnie adjusted his goggles. "Well, I know what we can use as bait."

Mikey gasped. "Bread crumbs! Pigeons eat bread crumbs!"

Donnie deadpanned. "I meant April."

Mikey's eyes went wide with horror. "You're gonna let him eat April?! I thought you liked her!"

April threw her hands up. "Yeah!"

"I'd say let's do it," Mari says with a delighted grin.

Cat, who had been curled up in the corner of the couch, made a horrified face. "Wait—do pigeons actually eat people?"

Mari groaned. "Cat, no. That's not a thing."

Cat still looked unconvinced. "Are we sure?"

"Don't sweat it," Donnie continued, ignoring them. "We've got your back."

Leo clapped his hands together. "All right, mighty mutants, let's do this."

Raph snorted. "'Mighty mutants'? What, was 'dancing dorks' already taken?"

Before Leo could argue, Splinter stepped forward, his presence immediately commanding attention.

"Wait," he said, his voice calm yet firm. "We do not yet know what you are facing. Perhaps you should study your enemy before confronting him."

Leo exhaled, already anticipating the lecture. "With all due respect, Sensei, it's a pigeon."

Splinter's gaze sharpened. "What you know is dangerous to your enemy. What you think you know is dangerous to you. I fear you are all becoming overconfident."

Leo squared his shoulders. "Sensei, in the past few months, we've taken down giant spiders, plant creatures, alien robots, and an army of ninjas. Maybe we're not overconfident. Maybe we're just that good."

Splinter said nothing, simply watching as the team made their way toward the exit.

April stood alone in the alley, hands on her hips as she dramatically called out to the empty night.

"Here I am, walking around in the big city. All alone!" she announced, her voice carrying just enough exaggeration to be obvious. "Oh, I sure hope no crazy pigeon-man sneaks up on me. That would be the last thing I'd want."

From the shadows, Donnie facepalmed. "What are you doing?"

April shrugged. "You wanted me to be bait. I'm bait."

"That's not how bait talks."

April scoffed. "And how do you know how bait talks?"

Donnie crossed his arms. "I know bait doesn't talk back."

Mikey peeked out from behind a dumpster. "Oh, no, you didn't."

Before April could respond, the turtles ducked down again as the sound of flapping wings echoed through the alley.

Donnie hissed. "Just act natural!"

April rolled her eyes but played along. "Here I am, actin' natural," she said, strolling back and forth. "Just totally defenseless against any, I don't know, hideous mutant pigeon-guy who might happen upon me."

Cat, hiding behind a dumpster with Mikey, whispered, "Should I be taking notes? This is like, prime kidnapping bait behavior."

Mari, crouched next to Raph, groaned. "You don't take notes on how to get kidnapped, Cat."

"Yeah, you're a natural," Mikey teased.

"Shh!" Leo snapped.

Right on cue, a piercing caw rang out.

April barely had time to turn before a hulking, feathery figure swooped down from above, talons gleaming in the dim light.

She screamed, throwing her arms up to shield herself—

ZAP!

The pigeon mutant screeched as a jolt of electricity surged through him.

"Now!" Leo barked.

The turtles sprang from their hiding spots, weapons drawn, tackling the dazed creature to the ground.

"Okay, okay, uncle! Jeez Louise!" the mutant wheezed, holding up his wings in surrender.

April huffed, brushing herself off. "And you said I wasn't good bait."

Leo ignored her, stepping forward. "Alright, start talking, pigeon-man."

The mutant scoffed. "I have a name."

Raph rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we just don't care what it is."

"Pete," the pigeon muttered irritably.

Cat tilted her head. "That is... not an intimidating name."

Pete shot her an unamused look. "It wasn't supposed to be."

Leo narrowed his eyes. "Why were you trying to hurt April, Pete?"

Pete looked offended. "I wasn't trying to hurt her! I was just bringing her a message. From her father."

April's breath hitched.

She stepped forward immediately. "Let him up."

The turtles hesitated but obeyed, releasing their hold on Pete.

Pete ruffled his feathers, shaking off the attack. "We were both guests of the Kraang," he explained. "They poured some ooze on me and turned me into this."

April frowned. "Oh, that must have been horrible, being turned into a pigeon."

Pete blinked. "Actually, I started out as a pigeon."

There was a beat of silence.

Mikey turned to Donnie, grinning. "Told you the bread crumbs would've worked."

Pete's head snapped toward Mikey, eyes gleaming. "You've got bread crumbs?"

Mikey yelped as Pete grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him slightly.

Mari snorted. "This is the dumbest interrogation I've ever seen."

April quickly intervened. "Um, my father?"

Pete released Mikey and fished a phone out from a small satchel slung across his chest. He tapped the screen and held it out.

A video started playing.

Kirby O'Neil's face appeared, his expression urgent, eyes darting around as he spoke in hushed, panicked tones.

"Something terrible is about to happen. I don't know what, but it's extremely important that you get out of the city as soon as you can. Save yourself. Remember, I love you."

April's throat tightened. She exhaled shakily. "I love you too, Daddy."

Leo's brow furrowed. "Do you have any idea what he's talking about?"

Pete shrugged. "I'm just the messenger."

Donnie turned to April, his voice tense with worry. "We have got to get you out of the city."

April shook her head, determination setting in. "I'm not going anywhere without my dad."

"April, you heard him. Something terrible is gonna happen," Donnie argued.

April met his gaze, unwavering. "Then we'd better hurry."

Donnie sighed, clearly unconvinced, but he nodded.

Leo turned back to Pete. "Can you tell us where the Kraang are holding him?"

Pete puffed up his chest. "I can, but it's gonna cost you a lot of bread."

Leo narrowed his eyes. "We're talking about actual bread, right?"

Pete nodded sagely. "Yeah. Sourdough."

Cat whispered, "I respect this bird."

Mari rolled her eyes. "Of course you do."

Leo exhaled. "Done."

Mikey grinned, grabbing a smoke bomb from Donnie's pouch. "Alright, let's roll!"

With a dramatic toss, he threw the bomb to the ground—

And as the thick purple smoke engulfed the alley, the team vanished.

From the rooftop above, dark figures loomed in the shadows.

The Foot Clan had been watching.

Donnie stood on Mikey's shell, reaching up to pry open the ventilation fan on the rooftop. With a final twist of his wrench, the bolts popped free.

"Piece of cake," he said, smirking as he stepped back.

April shifted impatiently. "Let's do this."

Leo placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "We need you to wait here, April."

April's expression hardened. "Are you crazy? My dad's in there."

"And so are who knows how many Kraang," Leo countered. "This requires stealth and mobility. Leave it to the pros."

April clenched her fists. "I can't just do nothing."

"You won't be doing nothing," Leo assured her. He reached into his belt and pulled out a coiled rope, pressing it into her hands. "We need you to lower this when we give the signal. Can you do that?"

April huffed, clearly frustrated, but took the rope. "Fine."

Cat, who had been watching quietly from the side, suddenly spoke up. "Can I stay with April?"

Leo frowned. "What? No. You're coming."

"But she shouldn't be alone up here," Cat reasoned quickly. "What if something happens? What if the Kraang come up here first?"

Mari shot her a suspicious glance. "You just don't wanna go in there."

Cat crossed her arms, looking anywhere but Mari. "That is... beside the point."

Leo exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're coming with us."

Cat groaned. "Ugh, fine."

Mari smirked. "I bet you five bucks you scream first."

Cat scowled. "I bet you five bucks you punch something unnecessary."

Mari shrugged. "Joke's on you. I was gonna do that anyway."

Leo sighed, turning to the others. "Let's move."

One by one, the turtles disappeared into the ventilation shaft, slipping into the Kraang facility below. Mari followed close behind, slipping through with practiced ease. Cat, on the other hand, hesitated before awkwardly shimmying into the vent.

"I hate this," she muttered under her breath.

Raph, ahead of her, smirked. "Yeah? You're gonna hate it even more when we drop in."

Cat paled. "Wait, what—?"

Before she could react, the turtles landed on the ground below, barely making a sound. Cat, not nearly as graceful, tumbled after them with a startled yelp.

Mari rolled her eyes and yanked her to her feet. "You owe me five bucks."

Cat groaned. "Ugh."

The team moved swiftly and silently through the dimly lit corridors, taking down every Kraang drone they encountered with quick, precise strikes. Mari fought with sharp, efficient movements, while Cat lingered at the back, swiping at any Kraang that got too close.

As they reached a secured chamber, they pressed themselves against the wall. Inside, an eerie blue glow illuminated the room, casting long shadows across the metallic surfaces. A large console sat in the center, blinking with unfamiliar alien symbols.

Leo glanced at Donnie. "Hack into the system. See if you can find out what the Kraang are planning."

Donnie adjusted his goggles, cracking his knuckles. "On it."

Leo continued, "Raph, Mari, you're with me. Mikey, Cat, stay with Donnie."

Donnie barely held in a groan. "Oh, come on! Why do I always get stuck with them?!"

Mikey gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "Dude!"

Cat's jaw dropped. "Excuse me? What does that mean?!"

Donnie threw up his hands. "It means I value my sanity!"

Mikey scoffed. "Wow. And here I thought we were brothers."

Cat crossed her arms. "And I thought I was part of the team. But I guess we're just burdens now."

Leo sighed. "Donnie..."

Donnie pointed at them both. "You cannot honestly tell me that having both of them is fair!" He turned to Leo, exasperated. "Please, please take one of them."

Leo folded his arms. "Raph, you good with Cat?"

Raph hesitated, then sighed. "Yeah, whatever."

Cat beamed. "Aww, see? You do love me."

Raph rolled his eyes. "Regretting this already."

Donnie let out a breath of relief. "Thank you."

Mari scowled. "Wait—so I'm stuck with Mikey now?"

Mikey slung an arm around her shoulder. "Aww, c'mon, partner! This is gonna be great."

Mari groaned, shoving him off. "And I'm with the nerd? Why did my team downgrade?"

"Hey!" Donnie complained.

Raph smirked. "On the bright side, Mari, you're the strongest on your team."

"Screw you."

Leo nodded. "Alright, we're set. Let's move."

With that, the teams split off, heading their separate ways into the facility.

Leo and Raph moved swiftly through the dimly lit corridor, their footsteps silent against the cold metallic floor. Cat trailed slightly behind them, her tessen gripped tightly in her hands as she scanned the area with wide eyes. The eerie glow of alien monitors cast long, flickering shadows against the walls, making the whole place feel even more ominous.

Leo motioned for them to halt as they reached a row of containment cells. Pressing himself against the wall, he stepped forward cautiously. "Mr. O'Neil? Are you in here?"

From inside one of the cells, a figure stirred. A weary-looking man with graying hair and glasses stepped closer to the reinforced glass, his expression flickering with both recognition and urgency.

"You're one of the turtles who rescued my daughter," he said, his voice edged with worry. "Is she okay?"

Raph smirked. "She's fine. She's right outside."

Cat, who had been holding her breath, exhaled in relief. "She's been so worried about you," she added, stepping forward. "And, y'know, really stubborn about staying put."

Kirby sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You mean she's still in the city?" He shook his head. "That girl is stubborn."

Leo chuckled. "Yeah, we've noticed. Donnie is working on getting this door open. Just sit tight."

Donnie hunched over the alien console, his fingers flying across the keys as he hacked into the Kraang system. His expression was tight with focus, his eyes scanning the complex coding rapidly. Meanwhile, Mari stood next to him, arms crossed, watching the process in silence.

Mikey, however, was providing his own brand of help.

"What's that one do?" Mikey asked, pointing at a random flashing button.

Donnie didn't look up. "I don't know."

Mikey pointed at another. "What about that one?"

"I don't know."

Mari sighed. "This is so painful."

Mikey grinned and pointed again. "Okay, but what about—"

"I. Don't. Know!" Donnie snapped, his patience wearing dangerously thin.

Mikey gasped dramatically, pointing at an even shinier button. "Ooooh, that one's pretty—"

Mari rolled her eyes. "Mikey, if you press one button, I will personally throw you into the next containment cell."

Mikey frowned. "Yeesh. You two are so tense."

Donnie groaned. "Just stop it!" His fingers hit a final command, and the console beeped in confirmation. "Ha! I'm in!"

Mikey crossed his arms, grinning smugly. "You're welcome."

"You didn't even do anything." Mari glared.

Before Mikey could respond, Donnie shoved him aside, his eyes flicking rapidly over the incoming data. But as soon as he processed the information, the color drained from his face.

His breath hitched.

"...Uh oh."

Raph paced impatiently beside Leo, arms crossed as his older brother continued fiddling with the lock on Kirby O'Neil's cell. The dim glow of the alien facility made everything feel colder, more sterile. Cat stood a few steps behind them, gripping her tessen tightly, shifting anxiously from foot to foot.

"Since it's taking Leo forever to pick that lock..." Raph muttered.

Leo shot him a glare. "I'm working on it!"

Raph ignored him and turned to Kirby. "Maybe you can tell us what the heck's the deal with the Kraang?"

Kirby stepped closer to the bars, his expression grim. "They're aliens from another dimension. When they came here, they brought the mutagen with them."

Cat shuddered slightly. "Yeah, we noticed."

"The mutagen doesn't work the way they thought it would," Kirby continued. "Apparently, the physical laws of their universe are different from ours."

Leo's brow furrowed, the pieces clicking together in his head. "So they're grabbing scientists to help them modify the ooze."

Raph rolled his eyes. "Wow, you figured it out! How's that lock coming?"

Leo gritted his teeth, still focused on the stubborn lock. "Almost there."

Kirby sighed. "I wish I knew what they were planning."

Before anyone could respond, hurried footsteps echoed from down the corridor.

Donnie, Mikey, and Mari skidded into the room, panting, their faces a mix of panic and urgency.

"Leo, Raph," Donnie gasped. "They've planted a mutagen bomb downtown! If it goes off, half the city is getting oozed!"

Leo stiffened. "What?!"

"And—oh, hi, Mr. O'Neil," Donnie added quickly, waving awkwardly. "Your daughter's really nice."

Kirby barely had time to process that before Leo turned back to the lock with renewed urgency.

"Okay, we have to disarm that bomb. If I could just get this stupid door open—"

Mikey suddenly perked up. "Have you tried this?"

Before anyone could stop him, he reached forward and pressed a glowing panel.

A blaring alarm sounded.

Everyone froze.

"NO!" Raph groaned, rubbing his face. "And that's why no one wants to be with you!"

Mikey whined. "Come on!"

Mari punched him in the arm. "You absolute idiot!"

Cat let out a strangled noise, her face pale.

Before the alarm could summon more trouble, Leo finally worked the mechanism loose. "Got it!"

The cell door slid open, and Kirby rushed out, relief evident on his face.

"Let's move!" Leo commanded.

They barely made it into the corridor before the Kraang arrived, laser weapons drawn. The aliens fired, forcing the turtles, Mari, Cat, and Kirby to duck behind a row of crates.

"April!" Leo called out, his voice echoing through the facility.

Raph shot him a look. "What are you doing?!"

Up above, April's head popped over the ledge. Her eyes widened when she saw them.

"Dad!" she cried.

"April!" Kirby called back.

April hurriedly tossed the rope down.

The Kraang swarmed closer. Raph kicked a metal barrel straight into one of them, sending it flying. Another aimed its weapon—only for Raph to stab forward, knocking the gun from its grip.

Kirby, seeing his chance, lunged.

"Mr. O'Neil, what are you doing?!" Leo yelled as Kirby grabbed the fallen Kraang weapon and activated it.

Kirby turned, face set with determination. "Save my daughter. Save the city."

"NO!" April screamed.

With a battle cry, Kirby fired at the approaching Kraang, holding them off with every ounce of courage he had. The lasers struck enemy after enemy, knocking them back, but more kept coming.

"Go, go!" Leo shouted.

They had no choice. The turtles scrambled up the rope, pulling April with them. Mari grabbed Cat's wrist, practically hauling her up when she hesitated for a second too long.

April struggled, looking back in desperation. "We can't leave him here!"

Leo's face was tight. "We don't have a choice."

Below, the Kraang recaptured Kirby, yanking the weapon from his hands. His resistance ended as he was dragged back into the depths of the facility.

April let out a choked sob as she climbed over the ledge, her hands gripping the rooftop in despair. She collapsed onto her knees, shoulders shaking.

"NO!"

Donnie knelt beside her, his voice softer now. "We'll get him back, April. I promise."

Leo exhaled sharply, his fists clenching.

"We gotta go," he said, forcing himself to push forward.

Cat swallowed hard, her hands trembling as she clutched her tessen. Mari exhaled, dragging a hand through her hair before muttering under her breath.

"That was way too close."

The rooftop of the Wolf Hotel was eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of Kraang technology. The alien droids stood in formation, guarding the massive container of mutagen at the center of the rooftop. Its ominous glow cast an eerie green tint across the concrete.

One of the Kraang Droids turned to its counterpart, its mechanical voice buzzing.

"Kraang, in how many time units known as minutes will the device containing the mutagen that will be spread over the place known as New York, be detonated?"

The second Kraang Droid turned its head stiffly. "Five."

Before it could say another word, an arrow shot through its head.

Another arrow followed, hitting the next Kraang square in the chest. The remaining droids whirled around in confusion, scanning their surroundings—just in time for more arrows to rain down from the shadows.

Leo, Raph, and Cat emerged from their hiding spots, their bows still drawn. Within seconds, the last Kraang droid collapsed to the ground, its circuits sparking.

Leo lowered his bow. "Okay, Donnie, it's up to you."

From across the rooftop, Donnie, Mikey, and Mari sprinted toward the bomb. Donnie immediately pulled open the control panel, his eyes scanning the alien circuitry, fingers hovering over the wires—before his face immediately paled.

"Uh-oh," he muttered.

Leo stiffened. "Uh-oh?! Donnie, you said you knew how to do this!"

"I did!" Donnie defended. "I just... didn't count on a design this complex, Leo!"

Leo shot him a frustrated look. "They're aliens from another dimension. What did you expect? A big round ball with a lit fuse that said bomb?"

"No, but this—"

Raph crossed his arms. "Boy, I sure hope this argument goes on for another four minutes and fifteen seconds."

Donnie ignored him, hands shaking slightly as he studied the wires. His mind raced. Which one? Which one?

"Careful," Leo warned.

Donnie shot him a death glare. "You guys are not helping."

Mikey suddenly leaned over his shoulder. "What if we just push this button?"

Raph yanked him back by the bandana. "Don't you think you've pushed enough buttons tonight?"

Cat bit her lip, glancing at Mari. "I really don't wanna be double mutated."

Leo's eyes flicked toward the panel, then back to the bomb's countdown timer. "Donnie, you're gonna have to speed this up."

Donnie swallowed hard. "I cannot work with all this pressure!"

A loud thud echoed from behind them.

Leo stiffened. "...That might be a problem."

All six turned—just in time to see Chris Bradford and Xever stepping onto the rooftop.

Leo's grip tightened on his swords. "You guys picked a really bad time for this."

Xever smirked. "Oh, sorry for the inconvenience. When would you prefer to breathe your last breath?"

Before Leo could react, Xever lunged, his butterfly knives gleaming under the rooftop lights. Leo ducked, deflecting the attack with his blades before rolling out of the way.

Chris stormed toward Raph, swinging his massive arm. "I'd rather perish with honor than live in shame!"

Raph barely dodged the swing before launching himself forward, slamming his head into Bradford's skull.

Bradford stumbled back, clutching his forehead. "Agh!"

Raph smirked. "You gonna honorably cry about it?"

Mari jumped into the fight, slicing at Xever's side with her tanto. He twisted away, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Aren't you a feisty little thing?" he sneered.

Mari gritted her teeth.

On the other side of the roof, Cat yelped as Bradford nearly crushed her under a downward punch. She threw herself sideways, barely dodging, before instinctively flinging a tessen at his face.

It bounced off his forehead.

Bradford barely reacted.

Cat swallowed. "Uh. Oops."

He turned to her, unimpressed.

"RAPH!" she shrieked.

Raph lunged in, intercepting Bradford before he could grab Cat, slamming a knee into his ribs.

Meanwhile, Leo twisted out of the way as Xever kicked toward him again. "If that thing goes off, it'll wipe us all out!"

Xever scoffed, barely missing Leo with a sharp roundhouse. "Sounds like a you problem."

Donnie, still hunched over the bomb, wiped sweat from his brow. "Okay, okay, down to two wires! Which do I cut?!" he shouted over the fight. "Black or green?!"

Mikey, currently getting punched in the gut by Bradford, wheezed, "Go for the green! Ugh—!"

Donnie grimaced. "Ehh... why not."

With a deep breath, he snipped the green wire.

The countdown stopped.

For a beat, the rooftop was silent.

Donnie blinked. Then his face lit up. "Guys, guys, Mikey was right about something!"

Raph groaned. "Oh great, now we'll never hear the end of it—"

Donnie didn't even let him finish before grabbing his bo staff and slamming it into Bradford's side. Mikey, finally recovering, flipped onto his feet and joined the fray.

Xever and Bradford found themselves quickly surrounded.

Leo held up his katana. "You are worthy adversaries—but the fight is ours. Lay down your weapons."

Xever glared. "Never!"

"You don't have a choice," Leo pressed. "You've lost."

Chris's lip curled. "If I'm going down—"

Before anyone could react, he swung his sword—and accidentally stabbed it straight into the mutagen tank.

"NO!" Donnie yelped.

The glass shattered.

A wave of green ooze exploded out, splattering across the rooftop. Xever and Bradford barely had time to react before the mutagen engulfed them both.

The turtles stumbled back, shielding themselves from the splash.

Cat, standing a bit too close, screeched, "DON'T LET IT TOUCH ME!" and practically tackled Mari to the side.

The turtles stood atop the Wolf Hotel, triumphant. The mutagen bomb had been defused. The Kraang were defeated. And the city? It was safe—at least for now.

Leo grinned, the weight of the battle finally settling into something victorious. "So, to sum up, we kicked the butts of the Kraang and Shredder's top henchmen while defusing a bomb and saving the city."

Raph smirked, crossing his arms. "Yeah, we're not overconfident."

Leo chuckled. "We're just that good."

Mikey threw his arms up. "Woo! Celebration time!"

Cat, still catching her breath, grinned. "Can we not cut it so close next time? Please?"

Mari huffed. "No promises."

But before any of them could bask in their victory, a deep, booming voice echoed through the night.

"Your skills are impressive."

The turtles froze.

The voice was calm—too calm. And yet, there was a distinct weight to it. A voice that didn't need to raise itself to command fear.

Leo turned sharply toward the source, his stomach dropping as his eyes locked onto a figure standing high above them, silhouetted against the moonlight.

The Shredder.

With a single leap, the armored warlord landed gracefully before them. He straightened, his sheer presence drowning out the city noise, suffocating the air around them.

"But they will not save you," he finished.

The turtles instinctively pulled out their weapons, hearts pounding.

Donnie, his voice a little higher than usual, whispered, "Oh, man. Do you think that's the Shredder?"

Raph's grip on his sais tightened. "Well, it's definitely a Shredder."

Cat swallowed hard, clutching her tessen. "So... uh, we run, right?"

The villain took a slow, measured step toward them. "There is undoubtedly a fascinating story in how my old nemesis came to teach ninjutsu to six mutant turtles. Perhaps..." His claws gleamed under the city lights. "I will let one of you live long enough to tell it."

Leo squared his shoulders, forcing his nerves down. "You're gonna have to catch us first." He glanced at Mikey. "Mikey."

Mikey grinned, already reaching for his smoke bomb pouch. "So long, suckah!"

He threw the bomb to the ground—

Only... nothing happened.

The turtles stared at the very non-exploding object now rolling across the rooftop.

Mikey's face paled. "Oops. Uh. Okay. That one's on me."

Mari facepalmed. "We are so dead."

The Shredder's claws unsheathed with a metallic hiss.

Raph was the first to react, lunging with his sais. Their weapons clashed in a shower of sparks, but Shredder barely seemed fazed. With a single powerful kick, he sent Raph flying backward into the hotel's neon sign, electricity crackling violently around him.

"Raph!" Leo shouted.

Raph screamed as his body convulsed from the shock before falling limply to the ground.

Leo barely had time to move before Shredder turned his attention to him. The two clashed—katana against steel claws—but it wasn't a fair fight.

Shredder was faster. Stronger.

One solid punch to Leo's gut knocked the wind from his lungs, sending him skidding across the floor.

"Leo!" Donnie shouted, abandoning the remnants of his broken bo staff as he charged.

The attack was over before it even started.

Shredder grabbed the remains of Donnie's staff mid-swing and cracked it against his ribs—once, twice—before tossing him aside.

Donnie groaned as he hit the ground, clutching his side in pain.

Mikey, desperate, swung his kusarigama, wrapping the chain around Shredder's arm—

But Shredder barely even glanced at him before yanking the chain, sending Mikey soaring over the ledge of the building.

"MIKEY!"

Mari and Cat screamed as Mikey disappeared over the edge.

Leo and Donnie barely managed to drag themselves to the ledge in time to see Mikey hanging precariously off the side, his fingers barely gripping onto the metal framework.

"Don't let go!" Leo shouted, reaching down.

Cat, scrambling, yanked her tessen free and threw it open, wedging it beneath Mikey's hand. "Here—grab onto this!"

Mikey, struggling, wrapped his fingers around the handle just as Mari lunged forward, gripping his wrist with both hands.

"Little help?!" Mari snapped.

Leo and Donnie grabbed onto Mikey's arm, dragging him up just as Shredder turned sharply, his claws flashing.

Both Leo and Donnie lunged at once, attacking with everything they had.

Leo's blade sliced through the air, forcing Shredder to spin around—but Donnie was already there, slamming his staff into the villain's helmet, finally making him stumble back.

Mikey, now back on the rooftop, immediately rushed to Raph's side.

Raph groaned, rubbing his head.

But the battle wasn't over.

Leo, back on his feet, rushed at Shredder again. He swung with full force—

But Shredder caught his blade midair.

Leo barely had a second to react before Shredder grabbed him by the throat and hurled him across the rooftop.

Leo hit the wall hard, his breath leaving him in a sharp gasp.

Shredder pinned him there, his claws pressing dangerously close to his throat.

Leo's heart pounded as the cold steel pressed against his skin.

"Tell me where Splinter is," Shredder ordered. His voice was low, steady, deadly. "And I promise your demise will be swift."

Leo gritted his teeth, glaring. He refused to give Shredder the satisfaction of a response.

Then—

A sound. A gasping breath from behind them.

Shredder's grip loosened as he turned toward the noise.

And what he saw made him freeze.

Xever.

But not Xever.

The man—or what was left of him—was twisted, warped. His legs were gone, replaced by a long, serpentine tail. His skin was no longer human, but scaled, gills flaring as he gasped for air.

"Help... me..."

Shredder stared.

Chris Bradford stumbled beside him. Or—what had once been Chris Bradford.

The akita-like beast loomed in the darkness, his mismatched arms twitching, his whole body trembling as though his very existence was wrong.

The turtles, beaten and bruised, backed away slowly.

Cat, staring at the two mutants, whispered, "Oh my god."

Mari exhaled shakily. "That's new."

Shredder remained motionless.

His voice, for the first time, wavered.

"...Xever?"

He turned toward Bradford.

"...Bradford?"

But before he could process anything further—

The turtles were gone.

Shredder's gaze snapped toward the empty rooftop. His fists clenched.

And then—

"NO!!!"

The lair was suffocating in its silence, thick with frustration and exhaustion. The weight of their defeat clung to every corner, heavier than any battle wound.

Near the arcade machine, Raph stood rigid, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. With a growl of frustration, he swung hard, his fist colliding with the screen. A sharp crack splintered through the glass, but it did nothing to ease the fury burning inside him.

Across the room, Leo sat on the couch, his elbows resting on his knees, head bowed. His shoulders were stiff, every muscle tense as he exhaled a slow, controlled breath. But it wasn't enough. The knot in his chest refused to loosen.

Mikey slumped against the wall, his grip on his nunchucks unyielding. "He was just so fast," he muttered, his voice unusually quiet. He shook his head, eyes dark with something he didn't want to name. "It's like he knew what we were gonna do before we even did it."

Donnie sat at the table, staring blankly at the remains of his broken bo staff. His fingers absently traced the jagged edges, the splintered wood a stark reminder of how easily they had been overpowered. "It was like he was everywhere at once," he murmured.

Cat sat with her knees drawn to her chest, eyes downcast. "I froze," she admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't even do anything. I just—" She swallowed hard, biting her lip to keep it from trembling.

Mari crossed her arms tightly, standing near the others but keeping her distance. Her jaw was locked, her expression unreadable. "We weren't ready," she muttered, but the anger in her voice wasn't directed at Shredder—it was at herself.

Leo exhaled sharply and finally looked up, meeting Splinter's gaze. "You were right about us being overconfident, Sensei." His voice was steady, but the weight behind it was unmistakable. "There are some things we're just not ready for."

Splinter studied them, his eyes sweeping over each of his children. He could see the bruises, the exhaustion in their posture, the lingering fear behind their words. But more than that, he saw something deeper—the realization of just how much stronger their enemy was.

"Perhaps," he said at last. His voice was measured, deliberate. "But that no longer matters."

He straightened, his tone taking on an undeniable finality.

"It is clear now that the Shredder is a problem that will not go away."

A heavy silence settled over the lair.

Splinter's gaze was unwavering as he looked upon his family—his children.

"So prepare yourselves, my children. Because as of this moment—we are at war."