It all started in a dark warehouse.

The air buzzed with the low hum of strange machinery as the Kraang gathered around a large, glowing device. One of them turned to the others.

"Kraang, prepare the plan which is called Plan 10," it droned. "The switching of Kraang mind with lesser human mind."

Another droid responded with eerie precision. "Kraang will switch minds with Earth leaders who will mutate Earth for Kraang."

Their leader continued. "Then all that remains is for Kraang plan known as Plan 10 to be tested. Bring in test subject X."

Above, hidden in the shadows of the second floor, the turtles watched the scene unfold.

Leo raised a hand. "Not until we know what they're up to."

Mari narrowed her eyes. "They're testing mind control tech. This isn't just another weird experiment."

"Great," Cat muttered from the back, nervously adjusting her grip on her tessen. "Mind control. Because that's what I needed today."

"Does it matter?" Raph grunted. "They're not baking cookies."

"Ew," Mikey added, making a face. "What would Kraang cookies taste like? Chocolate chips and brains?"

"Quiet," Donnie whispered. "Here they come."

Below, two Kraang dragged a terrified human man into the chamber.

"Take it easy, guys!" the man shouted. "This has gotta be a bad dream. You're not gonna probe me, right? I'll do anything, but just—no probing!"

The Kraang ignored him and strapped him to a metal table. Next to him, a pigeon squawked angrily from its own restraints.

"That's too big to be a probe, right?" Mikey asked nervously.

Mari scoffed. "If it is, I'm quitting ninja life forever."

"The Kraang neuroswitcher will switch test subject's mind with that which is called a pigeon," one of the droids explained.

The man's eyes widened. "Uh... I think I'd prefer the probing."

Cat scrunched her nose. "I really hate this plan."

"Okay, now!" Leo ordered.

The siblings leapt into action.

"Turtles!" the Kraang shrieked as they scrambled for weapons.

As the neuroswitcher powered up, Raph rushed forward and yanked the man off the table—but it was too late. The beam struck.

The man blinked and tilted his head oddly. Then he dropped to all fours and began strutting around the lab, cooing and pecking at the air.

Raph's jaw dropped. "You gotta be kidding me."

Cat, flipping past a Kraang blaster bolt, skidded to a stop when she saw the pigeon squawk in alarm—then speak.

"Ugh... why do I suddenly want to eat bread crumbs and poop on statues?" the bird gasped, looking down at its feathered body. "No! Nooo!"

"Okay, that's... horrifying," Cat muttered.

"Kraang test successfully tested," one droid said. "Kraang, exterminate Turtles for Kraang."

Laser fire erupted.

"Dude, it's too freaky!" Mikey shouted. "That guy's got the brain of a pigeon!"

"Which still makes him smarter than you," Raph snapped.

"Don't let him get hurt!" Leo called. "Take those Kraang down—fast!"

Blades clashed. Donnie's bo staff twirled through the air, sending two droids flying. Leo leapt to the upper level, slashing as he climbed. Mari darted after him, flipping off the railing and knocking a Kraang flat with the hilt of her tanto.

"You're getting slow," she said coldly, jabbing it in the chest.

"Get me out of here!" the pigeon-man cried.

Mikey raced over and unstrapped the pigeon. "I'll save you, Mr. Peepers!"

He ran to the dazed man still clucking like a bird and gently handed him the pigeon. "Dude, get a hold of yourself."

Donnie groaned. "Did you really just say that?"

Cat ducked behind a console, tessen raised in a shaky hand. "Can we please just break the mind-melty machine and go?!"

Across the lab, a Kraang droid shoved Raph against the neuroswitcher. Raph growled and flipped the droid, pinning it down.

"The Turtles cannot win against the Kraang," it buzzed.

"Tell it to the ground," Raph snarled, jamming his sai forward—but he missed. The blade pierced the side of the machine.

A spark flew.

The neuroswitcher lit up again—just as Raph and the Kraang were knocked into its beam.

They both collapsed.

"Raph's down!" Leo shouted. "Grab the man and the pigeon!"

Mari was already moving. She yanked a Kraang blaster out of one's hands and fired at two others trying to recover the neuroswitcher.

Cat dropped beside Raph, staring at him with wide eyes. "Raph?" she whispered.

No response.

She reached out instinctively, hesitated, then gritted her teeth and helped Leo lift him.

Kraang muttered weakly nearby, "Kraaaaang..."

Raph groaned faintly. "Ugh... guys..."

Later, they gently dropped the man—now back in his own body—on the sidewalk.

He blinked up at the sky. "Boy, did I have a weird dream. I switched brains with a—AHH! I'm not a pigeon! I'm not a pigeon! I am a man!"

Back in the Shellraiser, the ride was quiet... too quiet.

Leo looked over his shoulder from the driver's seat. "How's Raph?"

"Just gotta wake him up," Mikey said, crouching beside his brother. "Rise and shine, buddy."

He slapped Raph's face lightly. Nothing.

Donnie leaned over with a concerned frown. "That's not working. Try something else."

"I got it!" Mikey grinned. He pulled out his climbing claws. "Tickle, tickle, tickle..."

From the back corner, Cat was hugging her knees, pretending not to watch. But her eyes were glued to Raph.

Mari, arms folded, narrowed her eyes at the still body. "He's out cold. Something's wrong."

Suddenly, Raph's eyes flew open—but something was... off.

"Heh. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha," he said in a flat, robotic voice.

Mikey grinned, oblivious. "Yeah, boy! I'm glad you're back, Raph. High three!"

Raph didn't move to return the gesture. Instead, he seized Mikey by the shoulders.

"Turtles here? Where is the location of the Kraang where this Kraang is located?"

Mikey blinked. "You're with us, dude. In the Shellraiser. Nice Kraang impersonation, by the way."

Then Raph—no, the Kraang inside Raph—slammed Mikey into the wall with brutal force.

"Mikey!" Cat gasped, jumping to her feet.

Donnie rushed in and yanked Mikey away. "Raph, what are you doing?!"

Mari instinctively stepped in front of Cat, pulling a tanto from her belt. "That's not Raph."

"What's going on back there?!" Leo called from the front, jerking the wheel to steady them.

"Turtles... Kraang must destroy. Kraang will eliminate all," the creature growled, standing rigid, eyes vacant and cruel.

Donnie's face went pale. "It's Raph... He's been brain-switched with a Kraang!"

The Shellraiser swerved violently as Raph's sai flew past Leo's head, narrowly missing him. The whole vehicle rocked and skidded with a metallic slam.

"Guys?! You okay?" Leo called out, pulling the emergency brake.

Mikey groaned from the floor, dazed. "Ugh, I just had the weirdest dream. Raph was—"

"—a Kraang," Donnie finished grimly. "Not a dream."

Mari looked toward the back doors, already open.

"He's gone," she said. "And there's no telling where our Raph is."

Cat stood there silently, gripping her tessen so tightly her hands trembled.

Meanwhile, deep in the Technodrome...

Raph opened his eyes.

A Kraang hovered nearby. "Kraang, transport Kraang to med bay for vitamin infusion."

Raph sat up groggily. "Where am I?"

"Kraang has been damaged," another muttered.

"Kraang?" Raph repeated. "Who are you calling Kraang?" Then he looked at his reflection.

"Oh no."

He was inside a Kraang body.

"Kraang has been damaged," one said again. "Kraang is acting strange."

"No, I'm fine. I feel great!" Raph said quickly. "I mean... this Kraang is feeling much... uh, kraangier. Got Kraang stuff to do, so I'll just be... kraanging off."

He slipped out of the room.

As he passed another droid, it gave him a nod. "Looking good, Kraang."

Raph trudged to a window. His eyes widened as he took in the glowing, buzzing city of machines.

The Technodrome.

Raph groaned. "Ah, Kraang... Worst. Day. Ever."

The rain began to fall in cold, steady sheets, darkening the streets of New York. Underneath the glow of a streetlamp, the figure of Raph—at least in appearance—wandered aimlessly.

"Kraang... human, direct Kraang to fellow Kraang," the creature muttered, its voice strange and robotic despite the familiar face. A startled man screamed at the sight of the mutant turtle and ran off in terror.

Unbothered, the Kraang-possessed Raph continued forward. "The Kraang this Kraang seeks are small, squishy, and rather handsome."

A nearby woman shrieked and bolted.

Kraang-Raph paused in front of a shop window, catching his reflection in the glass. He tilted his head slightly, observing his unfamiliar form. "Indeed. Kraang is trapped in the body of a monster."

Before he could contemplate further, a chain whipped out from the shadows and yanked him backward into the alley.

"Gotcha!" Mikey grunted, pinning him down with effort. "Don't move, dude! I got him!"

—

Back at the lair, April was deep in training with Master Splinter. Her movements were sharp and focused as she worked through a kata, while Casey lounged nearby, eyes glued to the television.

On the screen, a dramatic anime played out.

"Dash Coolstar," growled a skeletal villain. "Once again, your battle charge into battle has caused you great battle misfortune!"

"I told you we should wait, Dash," said a squeaky-voiced sidekick.

"Quiet, Blip!" Dash barked back. "Your cowardice stifles me! You don't know the information, Skelelord, that in our possession is a great cause of fear to you!"

Casey blinked as a robotic foot squashed the villain flat. "This show's cool, but where are the subtitles?" he grumbled. "I hate dubbed anime."

Sitting nearby, Elliot leaned lazily against the back of the couch, arms folded. "You're lucky it's dubbed. Subbed Dash Coolstar makes even less sense."

Casey narrowed his eyes. "Yeah? And what makes you the anime expert?"

"I'm rich and bored," Elliot replied smoothly. "I've watched everything."

Splinter, watching April with a careful eye, gave her an approving nod. "Every day your skills improve, April. But you must remain patient."

"I could practice all day, Sensei," she said, bowing respectfully. She moved to sit, only for Casey to speak up again.

"If you need a Shiatsu massage," he said, wagging his fingers, "Magic Fingers is at your service."

April gave him a disgusted look. "Ew. More like Pizza Fingers."

Elliot made a face. "Gross. I was trying to eat."

At that moment, the lair's main entrance burst open. The turtles stormed in, soaked from the rain.

Mari scanned the room, blades still in hand. "Everyone okay?"

"Why wouldn't we be—" Casey started, then froze as Mikey stomped in dragging what looked like Raph with a grocery bag over his head, thrashing wildly.

"Is that...?" April blinked.

"Guess Raph really ticked you off this time," Casey added, snorting.

Cat trailed in last, dripping water onto the tile. She said nothing but stood stiffly, arms folded, clearly shaken.

Leo shook his head, exhausted. "Long story, but... he got his brain switched with a Kraang."

The bag came off just long enough for the Kraang inside Raph to growl, "Release Kraang now, and Kraang will disintegrate you relatively quickly!"

"...Okay, that's new," Elliot muttered, eyes widening.

Casey blinked. "That is too funny. Wha—"

Before he could finish the thought, Splinter appeared behind him and grabbed him by the ear, yanking him aside.

"Leonardo," Splinter said sternly. "Explain. Now."

Leo winced. "Um..."

Mari stepped forward, voice firm. "Raph got hit with a Kraang neuroswitcher. His mind's stuck somewhere else, and a Kraang's inside his body."

Elliot squinted. "Like that 'Freaky Friday' movie. Except... horrifying."

Cat flinched slightly, avoiding Mari's glance.

Casey glanced between them. "Wait—seriously? You're not messing with us?"

"No," Donnie said grimly. "And if we don't fix it fast, our real Raph might be stuck inside a jelly-brained alien forever."

Splinter turned to Cat, who looked like she was trying very hard not to be in the room. "Caterina. You are unusually quiet."

Cat hesitated, then forced a shrug. "I just... want my brother back."

Mari blinked at her—just for a second—but Cat didn't meet her gaze.

Elliot leaned toward April and whispered, "This is the weirdest day of my life."

"You say that every time we hang out," she replied.

Meanwhile, inside the Technodrome, Raphael struggled awkwardly in his new Kraang body. Every movement felt stiff and unnatural, like wearing a robot suit several sizes too big. He clanked down the corridor, trying not to draw attention, but one of the nearby Kraang droids noticed him.

"So, um, Kraang who are Kraang," Raph said, forcing out the words in his best imitation of their bizarre speech pattern, "can you, um, like, tell me how to get to the nearest, uh... Kraang exit?"

The other Kraang paused and tilted its head. "The query Kraang has stated makes no sense to Kraang. Kraang is busy."

Raph frowned. "Busy doing what?" he asked—and then quickly added in a mechanical voice, "Busy doing what?"

The droid said nothing, simply gesturing toward a nearby control room. Raph followed the gesture and stepped inside.

A console glowed in the center of the room. His eyes widened. "A communication orb," he muttered to himself. "Maybe Kraang—I mean me—can use it to contact Donnie."

Suddenly, a massive face filled the screen. Kraang Prime loomed large and menacing, addressing the entire station.

"All Kraang in Dimension X are mobilizing for the invasion known as the invasion of Earth," it declared. "Kraang, how is Plan 10 progressing? Kraang! I am addressing Kraang!"

Every droid in the room turned toward Raph. The pressure hit like a wall.

He cleared his throat, straightening up. "Oh. Me, Kraang. Uh, Plan 10? Well, as Kraang can see... everything's kraangtastic."

There was a long, tense pause.

Kraang Prime finally spoke. "Then let the switching of superior Kraang minds with inferior human leader minds begin!"

⸻

"We have to go back for Raph's mind," Leo said, his voice tight with urgency.

Splinter's expression remained calm but stern. "Wait," he said. "Have patience. It was Raphael's impatience that put him in the den of the enemy. You must not make the same mistake."

April frowned. "So what are we supposed to do?"

"A solution will arise," Splinter said, placing his hands together in thought. "You must wait and—"

A loud BZZT-CRACK echoed from Donnie's lab, cutting him off.

Everyone turned.

"It's coming from my lab!" Donnie shouted, already sprinting down the hall.

The group rushed after him. Mari was the first one through the door, blades drawn on instinct.

"What now?" she muttered, eyes scanning for threats.

Cat lingered by the doorframe, hugging her arms and biting her lip, heart pounding.

The communication orb on Donnie's desk flickered to life—a signal they hadn't seen in months.

On the screen, a Kraang face appeared... only this one looked jittery and panicked.

"Donnie, it's me, Raph!" it barked. "I'm stuck in a Kraang body inside the Technodrome. You gotta believe me!"

Casey burst out laughing. "Okay, that's hilarious."

Elliot raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. "That's either the most elaborate prank I've ever seen... or Raph just lost major cool points."

Mikey squinted at the screen. "Wait a minute. How do we know he's the real Raph? What's the secret ninja password?"

Raph's Kraang-body eyes narrowed. "I will pound you, Mikey."

Mikey grinned. "Close enough!"

Cat's breath hitched slightly, but she covered it with a cough. "That's... definitely him."

Mari crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at the screen. "Then why'd you wait so long to call?"

"Hey, I've been trapped in a walking space tentacle!" Raph snapped. "Cut me some slack!"

Donnie was already typing furiously. "Okay, his coordinates are coming up now."

He turned to the others. "Looks like we're going swimming."

"Great," Elliot said, deadpan. "I didn't bring my swimsuit."

"Then don't fall in," Mari said flatly, already moving to grab her gear.

As the group mobilized, Cat silently trailed behind them—her eyes never once leaving the flickering image of Raph on the screen.

⸻

Back in the Technodrome, a Kraang droid rounded the corner and stopped Raph.

"Who was Kraang talking to?" it asked, eyes narrowing.

Raph straightened up and gave the most nonchalant shrug he could manage. "Kraang. Duh."

"You did not report for vitamin infusion," the droid replied suspiciously.

"Oh, right," Raph said with a forced laugh. "Kraang must've forgot."

"Kraang never forgets," the droid said.

Raph stiffened.

The Turtle Sub cut through the dark waters, its lights illuminating the depths as it neared its ominous destination.

"How'd you ever talk me into getting into this leaky death trap?" Casey muttered from his seat, gripping the edge of the console.

Donnie didn't even look back. "Hey, the Turtle Sub is a fully amphibious strike vehicle. Seats nine. Turtle-powered."

"More like turtle-flavored claustrophobia," Elliot said flatly, hunched between April and Mikey with a bored expression. "Do you guys ever build anything with legroom?"

April smirked. "You're fine. Don't be dramatic."

"Technodrome straight ahead," Leo called from the front. "We're getting close."

In the back, Mikey sat beside the chained-up Kraang-possessed Raph, proudly holding the alien turtle like a trophy. "And the coast is clear," he announced. "No trouble in sight. We're home free."

Cat glanced at him from the far end of the sub, curled up beside Mari and unusually quiet. She hugged her knees tighter. "Why would you say that out loud?"

As if summoned by irony, the same massive sea monster from before surged into view with a piercing squeal.

Donnie's voice was sharp. "You just had to say something!"

But instead of attacking, the creature swam up to the sub... and nuzzled it.

Mari blinked. "Is it... cuddling?"

"Um. Okay," April said, confused. "What just happened?"

The monster swam off momentarily—then returned with a huge pile of trash, nudging it like a gift.

"Kinda has a thing for the sub," Mikey said, blinking.

"I get it," Elliot muttered. "I'd fall for a sub too."

Everyone stared at him.

"Pedal!" Casey shouted, panicked.

The sub pulled away, the sea monster looking a little heartbroken as it gave chase.

"Agh! It's following us!" Donnie groaned. "Faster!"

Inside the sub, Kraang-Raph struggled against his restraints. "This is all a big Kraangy mistake. Seriously."

One of the real Kraang aimed a weapon at him. "Kraang, you are ordered to exit the human construct and be analyzed."

"And if Kraang refuses?" Raph asked sarcastically.

"Then Kraang must take necessary action to protect Kraang."

Before things escalated, Leo shouted, "Torpedoes away!"

The sub rocked as they fired on the sea monster.

"Did we get it?" April asked, bracing herself.

A thud shook the sub as the monster slammed into them again. Another torpedo launched—but missed.

"Now where'd it go?" Casey demanded.

"I got it on sonar!" Donnie said just as the monster grabbed hold of them, shaking the sub like a toy.

"We're being eaten alive!" Mikey yelled.

"Donnie, do something!" Casey cried out.

"I'm activating the engines!" Donnie pressed a switch, and with a powerful surge, the sub broke free.

April let out a breath. "Right on."

"Turtle tech, boy," Mikey grinned.

"Technodrome, prepare to dock," Donnie said, steadying the vehicle.

As the sub slowed, Cat peeked out the window, visibly tense.

Mari leaned in slightly. "We'll get him back," she said under her breath—just loud enough for Cat to hear. "Don't freeze up on me now."

Cat gave a quick, silent nod.

Inside the docking bay, the Kraang turned on Raph. "Destroy the defective Kraang."

Raph yelped, "I'm outta here!"

One blast later, the Kraang pilot inside Raph's body was ejected. Raph—now fully back in his alien body—scrambled away, squealing.

"Tentacles, don't fail me now!"

He darted into another chamber filled with inactive droid bodies. The Kraang weren't far behind.

"Back off, Kraang!" he shouted. "Don't make me hurt you! I will use these!"

His antenna extended from his head, which he quickly covered in embarrassment.

Elsewhere, the rest of the team arrived at last—Leo, Donnie, Mikey, April, Casey, Mari, Cat, and Elliot moving swiftly through the Technodrome's halls.

"Clear," Leo confirmed.

Just then, alarms blared.

"Um... did we do that?" April asked.

"I'm gonna say yes," Donnie muttered.

More Kraang bots appeared, surrounding them.

"Enemies known as the Turtles, you have been captured by the Kraang and will be destroyed," one announced.

"Ugh," Elliot muttered. "Can we go one mission without being 'captured'?"

Then—"Stop!" shouted a familiar voice.

The group turned. Raph—still in his Kraang body—stood tall.

"Do not destroy the ones who are Turtles."

"Kraang must destroy the Turtles," one of the bots insisted.

"No, Kraang must transport Turtles for brain switching with Kraang, by order of Kraang Prime," Raph said, standing straighter. "Go ahead. Go on. Move."

The droids paused, then turned and marched off.

As the team moved, Raph glared at them. "You guys are lame. How could you get captured so easily?"

Leo rolled his eyes. "Coming to save you."

Casey's eyes lit up. "This is too awesome, Raph. You feel like chewing gum."

He and Mikey began poking at Raph's rubbery alien face.

"You're all pink and tentacley," Mikey added. "It's just so wrong."

"Cut it out!" Raph snapped, smacking them both. "We've got work to do. Let's move."

Mari gave him a once-over. "Well, at least your voice is still annoying."

Cat crossed her arms.

They pushed forward into a massive lab.

Nearby, two Kraang activated the neuroswitcher.

"The neuroswitcher is activated," one intoned.

"Kraang will become world leaders," said the other.

Raph led the way, the turtles and their friends trailing close behind—pretending to be captured.

Inside the Technodrome's neuroswitching chamber, the Kraang worked tirelessly at the control panels, preparing to transfer minds into world leaders. That was, until a familiar Kraang voice shouted over the din.

"Stop the experiment," Raph barked, still in the alien body. "You have new orders."

The nearby Kraang hesitated, head tilting. "Turtles are not part of—"

Raph hurled a sai, which embedded itself into the control console beside the Kraang's head. "They are now!"

"Get 'em!" Leo shouted, as chaos erupted around them.

The team sprang into action, weapons clashing with metal. Laser fire ricocheted around the chamber. Raph, still in his Kraang body, ducked low and fought with surprising agility.

"Don't hurt the machine!" he called. "Donnie, get that thing working!"

Donnie dashed to the control panel. "Oh, sewer apples..." he muttered under his breath as he typed frantically.

Meanwhile, the Kraang inhabiting Raph's turtle body broke free, using a laser to slice through its restraints.

"Kraang will have his revenge against Turtles," it growled, advancing.

April glanced toward Casey. "A little help?"

"Duck!" he shouted, winding up and hurling a hockey puck with expert aim. It ricocheted off two Kraang droids, knocking them down like bowling pins.

Raph turned in time to see his own body—still under alien control—charging at him.

"You!" he growled.

"One called Raphael," the Kraang inside Raph replied coolly.

"I'm gonna knock you straight outta my body!" Raph bellowed.

They collided with a thunderous crash, rolling across the floor in a flurry of limbs.

Back at the console, Donnie fumbled with controls. "One of these things has gotta activate the targeting matrix."

Mikey hovered beside him, flipping switches. "This one? Ooh—maybe this one!"

"Get outta there!" Donnie shoved him aside just in time as the machine roared to life.

"Okay..." Donnie said, cautiously hopeful.

"Hurry, Donnie!" Raph shouted mid-fight. "I really don't want to beat up such a good-looking turtle!"

"Ready, aim—fire!"

The beam fired—except it hit Mari and Cat, who were just a few feet too close while flanking the machine.

There was a crackle of energy—and then a flicker of silence.

Mari blinked from Cat's body. Cat blinked from Mari's.

They turned to each other.

"Not again," they both groaned in unison.

Elliot froze mid-fight, staring wide-eyed. "Hold on. Again?!"

Mikey dropped a Kraang and whipped around. "Wait—what do you mean 'again'?!"

Donnie's eyes widened. "What?! That wasn't supposed to hit you two!"

Mari—now in Cat's body—hissed through her teeth. "Donnie."

Cat—now in Mari's body—grimaced. "Can you please un-swap us before I have to throw a tanto?"

Casey blinked. "Okay, okay, back up—again?! When was the first time?!"

"Long story," they both muttered.

Mikey raised an eyebrow. "You swapped bodies and didn't tell us?"

"I didn't ask for a second round!" Cat snapped from Mari's voice, waving dramatically.

Mari (Cat's voice, deadpan): "Focus. We'll deal with the existential nightmare later."

Donnie slapped a few more buttons. "Okay! Re-calibrating the neuroswitcher—"

The beam fired again. ZAP. April and Casey—standing way too close—got hit next.

Casey blinked, now in April's body. "Cool."

April, now glaring from Casey's body, groaned. "Stop checking yourself out, Casey! Donnie, switch us back. Right now!"

"Sorry!" Donnie winced. "Working on it!"

The machine spun again.

"Stop pinching your own butt, Casey," April snapped.

"I didn't do anything!" Casey said, affronted. "I mean—you did—"

On the battlefield, Raph grunted, staring down his own face. "Wait—I can't stab myself—"

He hesitated for just a second too long. The Kraang struck him in the head, knocking it clean off the robot suit.

"The turtle known as Raphael will never be a turtle again," the Kraang snarled, aiming a blaster. "Prepare to be exterminated—"

ZAP.

The beam struck them both. There was a flicker of energy... then silence.

Raph opened his eyes. Green fingers flexed. A red bandana.

"Hey!" he grinned. "You did it, Donnie! I'm back!" His eyes locked on the stunned alien still in his suit. "Oh no, you don't."

He lunged and delivered a solid kick. "Time for some payback. I call this—Plan One!"

Donnie quickly reversed the rest of the swaps. Cat and Mari groaned in unison again as they finally landed back in their own bodies.

"Third worst day of my life," Cat muttered, brushing herself off.

"Easily top five for me," Mari replied.

Casey and April had returned to their rightful bodies as well.

"Finally," April muttered.

"Aww, man," Casey said, disappointed. "I kinda liked being a girl."

Raph rejoined the group, beaming. "I'm back, guys!"

Mikey grinned. "And the team is un-scrambled! For now."

Elliot looked around the chaotic battlefield, blinking slowly. "Remind me never to stand near Donatello when he's pushing buttons."

Donnie looked offended. "Hey!"

"Nice," Leo said, nodding. "Donnie, sabotage that thing and let's go!"

"Done and done," Donnie said, stabbing the neuroswitcher with a tool.

Behind them, a Kraang wailed, "Aw, kraaaang..." just before the machine erupted in an explosion.

They sprinted out of the Technodrome just in time.

—

Later, back in the lair, the TV blared the latest episode of Super Robo Mecha Force Five.

"Now is the time for when you have run out of time!" Skelelord cried.

"Not yet, Skelelord!" Coolstar shouted. "Engage ultra mega punch!"

Donnie chuckled. "Okay, this is good."

Raph leaned back on the couch, arms folded. "It's good to be back in the old red and green. And, uh... guys? Thanks."

Mikey gasped dramatically. "Did he just—?"

"I think he did," Leo said with a smirk.

Elliot looked up from where he was perched on the arm of the couch. "Wow. Raph said thank you. Mark your calendars."

Mari rolled her eyes from the floor, where she was cleaning her tanto. "I'll believe it when he starts hugging people."

Raph shot her a look. "Don't push it."

Raph's face turned serious. "I just wish I could've taken out the Technodrome. But I did catch a glimpse of the Kraang's invasion plan. They've got thousands of soldiers ready to go."

Off to the side, Mikey counted on his fingers, "74... 75... 79—ow!" He rubbed his head where Mari had lightly flicked him.

Leo turned to Splinter. "So how will we stop it, Sensei?"

"As I said before," Splinter replied calmly, "a solution will arise in time."

Donnie suddenly lit up from his corner of the room. "Okay—a little shading here... Got it!"

He flipped a paper around and grinned.

On it: a detailed blueprint of a massive mech suit, complete with oversized fists, turtle insignias, and a name scribbled in the corner—"Turtle Mecha X-1".

"We're gonna stop them with this."

Mikey's jaw dropped. "Donnie, you are an even bigger genius than I am."

Elliot stared at the drawing and raised an eyebrow. "That thing better have cup holders."

Cat blinked. "Wait—are we really gonna pilot a giant robot?"

Mari smirked. "If we are, I'm calling the left arm."

"Dibs on the head!" Mikey shouted.

"Nope," Donnie said, already walking away with the blueprint in hand. "I'm the genius. I get the head."

Raph leaned back with a grin. "This is gonna be awesome."