A thick fog rolled over the city, swallowing the rooftops in eerie silence. The turtles moved cautiously through the haze, their weapons drawn, bodies tense.

"Shredder could be anywhere," Leo murmured, tightening his grip on his katanas. "Stay frosty, guys."

Donnie adjusted his goggles. "FYI: Frost can't accumulate unless it's below freezing, except during a process called—"

"Maybe he's got an off-switch somewhere," Mikey interrupted, his voice carrying a nervous edge.

Raph rolled his eyes and smacked Donnie on the arm. "Found it."

Donnie shot him an irritated glare, but before he could respond, a deep, menacing voice cut through the fog like a blade.

"And I've found six pathetic turtles with only seconds to live."

A chill ran down Cat's spine. "Why does he always sound like a horror movie villain?"

Leo barely had time to process the words before the mist shifted.

Shredder was already among them.

Faster than their eyes could track, he surged forward. Clawed gauntlets lashed out, seizing Mikey by the back of his shell.

Mikey's scream barely had time to escape his throat before Shredder yanked him into the darkness.

His nunchucks clattered to the ground.

Gone.

Just like that.

Donnie's breath hitched. "Mikey!"

Instinct overrode fear. He lunged forward, swinging his bo staff with everything he had.

It didn't matter.

Shredder's claws sliced through the wood like paper. A split second later, a brutal kick connected with Donnie's chest, sending him crashing to the pavement with bone-crushing force.

He didn't get up.

"Donnie!" Raph's voice was raw with fury.

Leo didn't have time to react before Raph was already moving, launching himself from the wall, sais aimed straight for Shredder's throat.

A blur of motion.

The sais never landed.

Shredder intercepted him mid-air, twisting his massive frame. A brutal fist drove into Raph's stomach—once, twice—before he grabbed him by the plastron and hurled him into the fog.

Raph vanished with a strangled cry.

Leo reached out, desperate. "Raph!"

But there was nothing.

Mari gritted her teeth, fists clenched around her tanto. "He's taking us out one by one."

Cat let out a shaky breath. "Okay, I think I just peed a little."

Mari shot her a sharp look. "Pull it together, Cat!"

Then a voice, smooth and dripping with malice, sent ice through their veins.

"You are an insult to your master."

Mari barely had time to move before a massive force slammed into her. She hit the asphalt hard, her weapon skidding from her grasp.

Before she could rise, Shredder's foot crashed down on her chest, pinning her in place. The claws of his gauntlet gleamed in the dim light.

"You were never worthy."

His arm shot forward.

Steel met flesh.

Mari gasped—then fell silent.

Cat let out a strangled sound, stumbling back as Mari's body slumped against the pavement.

She was the only one left.

"No," she whispered. "No, no, no—"

She turned to run.

A cold, clawed grip snatched her by the arm.

Her tessen slipped from her fingers, clattering uselessly to the ground.

Shredder loomed over her, eyes glowing like embers in the fog.

"There is no place you can run," he murmured, dragging his claws along the pavement, sending sparks flying. "No place you can hide."

Cat shook her head frantically, her breathing coming in short, panicked gasps. "Please—"

A flash of silver.

Pain.

Her body hit the pavement with a sickening thud.

Leo stood frozen, his heart hammering in his chest. The breath he had been holding finally escaped, ragged and shallow.

He was alone.

The fog thickened, swirling around him like a living thing.

A dark silhouette emerged from the mist, moving with slow, deliberate steps. The scrape of metal against stone sent chills down Leo's spine.

Shredder.

Leo raised his katanas, but his grip trembled.

He wasn't ready.

Shredder tilted his head slightly. "You think you are prepared to face me?"

Leo exhaled sharply, forcing his terror down. He lunged forward, striking with everything he had.

Shredder barely moved.

With a flick of his wrist, he deflected Leo's strike and retaliated with blinding speed.

A brutal fist to the stomach.

A sharp knee to the ribs.

Leo gasped as he was lifted off the ground and thrown like a ragdoll.

He hit the side of a building hard, his vision swimming. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he forced himself to stand.

Shredder was already there.

Leo barely had time to brace himself before claws raked across his plastron, sending him staggering. A hand shot out, gripping him by the throat.

Shredder's voice was calm. Collected.

"Tell me, little warrior... do you fear death?"

Leo gritted his teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

Shredder tightened his grip, claws pressing into Leo's skin. "Perhaps I will let you live long enough to tell your master what has become of his students."

Leo's eyes burned with defiance. "You—"

A final strike.

Blinding pain.

And then—

Nothing.

Splinter jolted awake, a strangled gasp tearing from his throat. His breath came fast and uneven, his fur damp with cold sweat.

Raph adjusted his sais, tightening his grip as he turned toward the others. "Come on!"

The team moved swiftly, preparing to leave for their usual night patrol.

Just as the turtles reached the exit, a voice sliced through the room like a blade.

"Where are you going?"

Everyone froze.

Splinter stood in the center of the lair, his stance rigid, his expression unreadable.

Leo straightened. "Heading out for our evening patrol," he answered, hesitant.

For a long moment, Splinter said nothing. His gaze flickered over each of them, slow and deliberate. The air in the room shifted, the weight of something unspoken settling over them.

"There will be no patrol," Splinter said finally.

Leo's brow furrowed. "Sensei?"

Splinter's tail swished once, a slow, deliberate movement. "Last time you fought the Shredder," he said gravely, "you barely escaped with your lives."

Raph bristled, his muscles tensing. "But, Sensei, next time, we'll be ready."

Splinter's eyes narrowed. "Yes."

Before Raph could react, Splinter moved.

In a flash, he seized Raph's wrist and twisted.

Raph let out a sharp gasp, his whole body going taut as pain jolted up his arm. Instinct screamed at him to fight back, to resist, but Splinter's grip was iron.

The others flinched.

Mari tensed up, her jaw tightening. "Hey—"

"You will be ready," Splinter interrupted, his voice like steel.

His eyes swept across them, dark and piercing.

"Because you will stay down here until you are ready."

Raph stumbled back as Splinter released him with a sharp flick of his wrist, rubbing his arm but not daring to complain.

"No patrol," Splinter continued. "No games. No rest."

The weight of his words hung thick in the air.

"There is only training."

He turned to the rest of them, and something in his gaze made even Mari tense.

Cat swallowed hard, curling into herself slightly, her grip tightening around her tessen.

"Starting now."

The dojo was filled with sharp echoes—grunts, the clash of bodies, and the relentless pacing of Splinter's footsteps. The air was thick with exhaustion, the scent of sweat clinging to the turtles like a second skin. Every movement was sluggish, driven by sheer willpower and nothing else.

Mikey, barely able to stay upright, wiped at his forehead. "More, Sensei?" he asked weakly, already dreading the answer.

Splinter's gaze was cold, unreadable. "Yes. More."

Mikey groaned.

Donnie and Mikey charged forward with what little strength they had left, but their exhaustion made them sloppy. Leo and Raph barely had to try as they knocked them aside with ease.

From the side, Mari watched with a clenched jaw, fingers twitching at her sides. She was still standing, but barely. Cat, who had been trying to keep up with the others, was now hunched in the corner, her tessen loose in her grip, her whole body trembling with fatigue.

Splinter's frown deepened. "There is no intention in your strikes," he barked. "Do it again! We will practice all night if we have to."

Donnie, flat on his back, groaned. "We have been practicing all night."

A soft snore came from the other side of the dojo.

Mikey had completely passed out, his face smushed against the mat.

"Pizza... mmm..." he murmured, a blissful smile on his face.

Splinter's ear twitched. "Wake him up."

Raph cracked his knuckles, smirking. "Gladly."

Before anyone could react, he grabbed Mikey and threw him.

Mikey jolted awake mid-air, his eyes snapping open. "AHH! Shredder's here!"

Leo sighed, rubbing his temples. "Relax. You were just having a nightmare."

Raph let out a dry laugh, wiping sweat from his brow. "Aren't we all?"

Donnie pushed himself up on shaky arms, gasping for breath.

Mari sighed and muttered, "This is getting ridiculous."

"You're telling me," Cat mumbled, her voice weak. She had barely been able to keep up in the first place, and now her body screamed at her to stop.

Donnie finally caught his breath. "Sensei, can we rest for a sec?"

Splinter's gaze darkened. "Rest?" His tail flicked, sharp and deliberate. "The Shredder will not rest until you are all dead!"

The weight of his words crushed the air from the room.

Leo stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Sensei, we've been training nonstop for weeks with hardly any sleep. They need a break."

Raph scoffed. "Oh, like you don't?"

Leo's jaw tightened. "That's right, Raph. I don't."

Raph narrowed his eyes. "Ah, well then... I'll give you a break."

Before he could move, Splinter struck.

In a blur, he knocked them both down in one swift motion, sending them sprawling onto the floor.

"If I were the Shredder," Splinter said coolly, standing over them, "none of you would be breathing right now. Understand?"

The room was silent, save for their ragged breaths.

Mari's fists clenched. She wanted to argue, to tell Splinter that pushing them to the brink wasn't making them stronger—it was breaking them. But she bit her tongue.

Cat curled in on herself, gripping her tessen so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Then—

A soft snore.

Mikey had fallen asleep again.

Splinter exhaled through his nose, pinching the bridge of his snout. "Perhaps... a brief rest is in order."

The moment the words left his mouth, the team collapsed onto the floor, too exhausted to care.

Leo stood in the dim glow of the dojo, his katana slicing through the air with precision. The rhythmic swish of the blade was the only sound, aside from the crackling hum of the TV playing in the background.

"The Panicons hit me with an anxiety ray! Ahh! Ohh! We're all gonna die! And I think I left the food replicator on! The ship might burn down!"

Leo barely acknowledged the Space Heroes episode as he moved through his forms, but the dramatic voices still filtered into his mind.

"Get it together, Captain! You're our leader, so act like one!"

On screen, Captain Ryan hesitated, then steeled himself. He slapped himself twice, shaking off the effects of the so-called anxiety ray.

"I'm sorry, Grundch. That was the anxiety ray talking. I've got it. I'll use the thermal charge."

Ryan hurled a thermal charge at the Panicons, shielding his eyes just as the screen abruptly cut to black.

Leo froze mid-swing.

"What?" He turned to the TV—only to see a shuriken embedded in the screen.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

Raph stood a few feet away, twirling another throwing star between his fingers. He smirked. "Oh, sorry. It was Spike's idea." He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "He said Space Heroes is too stupid for him."

Leo narrowed his eyes. "That's saying something, considering he hangs out with you all day."

Spike, perched on Raph's shoulder, let out a slow blink before lazily munching on a leaf.

Raph's smirk vanished. "Nice going, Leo. You made him angry!" He cracked his knuckles. "Now I'm gonna mop the floor with your face!"

Leo tightened his grip on his katana, stepping back. "Alright, Raph. Cool off."

Before Raph could take a step forward, a loud clap of thunder rumbled from the tunnels above. Both turned toward the entrance of the lair as a gust of damp, musty air rushed in.

Then—

A crash echoed through the lair, followed by a shrill yelp.

Leo and Raph exchanged looks.

"What now?"

They hurried out of the dojo just as Cat came barreling into the room, sopping wet.

"I DIDN'T DO IT!" she blurted out immediately, waving her arms.

Leo folded his arms. "What didn't you do?"

Cat opened her mouth, hesitated, then pointed behind her.

Another clap of thunder shook the tunnels. A moment later, a wave of water came rushing down the hallway.

Raph's eyes widened. "What the—"

Before he could finish, the flood crashed into them.

Leo barely had time to brace himself before the water swept him off his feet, slamming him into Raph and sending them both tumbling across the floor.

"Oh, come on!" Raph sputtered as he scrambled onto his hands and knees, coughing up water. "What did you do?!"

Cat winced, wringing out the hem of her soaked hoodie. "Okay, in my defense—"

"No," Raph snapped. "No defenses. Explain. Now."

Cat sighed dramatically, rubbing her temples. "I may have been trying to reroute some rainwater from that old tunnel near the surface... and maybe I underestimated how much water was actually up there..."

Leo groaned, shaking out his soaked bandana. "So you flooded the lair?"

"Not the whole lair!" Cat said quickly. "Just... the part you guys were standing in."

Raph wiped his face, his glare deadly. "You are so lucky I was already planning on throwing someone today."

Before he could launch himself at Cat, a water balloon smacked him right in the face.

Water splattered in every direction.

Raph sat there, frozen.

Leo blinked.

Cat blinked.

A cackle erupted from the hallway.

Mikey.

"Doctor Prank-enstein strikes again!"

Raph's entire body twitched with rage.

"Oh, that's it—"

He lunged.

The air in Donnie's lab was thick with the scent of metal and circuitry. The steady hum of machinery filled the space as Donnie hunched over his workbench, adjusting the wiring inside a sleek, half-built vehicle. Sparks crackled briefly as he welded a component into place, his face set in deep concentration.

Across from him, Cat sat cross-legged on the floor, lazily spinning a wrench between her fingers, while Mari stood off to the side, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching Donnie work with mild disinterest.

From behind them, a familiar voice cut through the quiet.

"You're still working on that go-kart?"

Donnie sighed, setting down his tools with exaggerated patience before lifting his welding helmet to glare at Raph. "It's not a go-kart," he said, his voice tight with irritation. "It's an all-terrain patrol buggy with detachable sidecars."

Raph smirked. "Yeah, okay. So a fancy go-kart."

Before Donnie could launch into an impassioned defense of his creation, Mikey strolled in, twirling a water balloon between his fingers. "Dude, hasn't Splinter been riding us hard enough?" he whined. "You gotta find a way to relax."

Leo, leaning against the doorframe, shrugged. "We all deal with stress in different ways, Mikey."

Donnie nodded, turning back to his project. "Yeah, and this is how I deal."

Mari scoffed. "You're dealing by making a toy car?"

"It's not a toy car!" Donnie snapped, already exasperated.

Mikey grinned mischievously. "And this is how I deal."

Before anyone could react, he hurled the water balloon.

But it didn't hit Donnie.

It hit Mari.

Cold water splattered across her face, soaking her mask and dripping down onto her plastron.

Silence.

Cat's eyes widened. Raph sucked in a breath and stepped back. Donnie, for once, was speechless.

Mikey, meanwhile, blinked, realization slowly dawning on him.

"Uh..." he took a small step back. "Mari?"

Mari wiped a hand down her dripping face. Then she turned—slowly—her expression darkening, her grip tightening around the wrench she had been idly spinning just moments before.

Mikey gulped.

"Oops?"

And then—

Before Mikey could react, Mari lunged.

"YOU'RE DEAD!"

Mikey shrieked, sprinting out of the lab like his life depended on it. Which, given the murder in Mari's eyes, it probably did.

"GET BACK HERE!" Mari shouted, chasing after him.

Donnie watched them go. He exhaled through his nose. "Unbelievable."

Then—

Another water balloon hit him square in the face.

Soaked for a second time, Donnie blinked slowly, droplets rolling down his mask.

Cat, standing a few feet away, froze. Her hands still outstretched from where she had just thrown the balloon.

Mikey's cackle echoed from the hallway.

Cat let out a horrified gasp. "Oh my gosh—I was aiming for Mikey!"

Donnie's eye twitched.

Cat took one tiny step back. "Donnie, I swear, I—"

Donnie lunged.

Cat let out a terrified squeak before bolting.

The dojo was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of sweat and exhaustion. Despite their aching limbs and the relentless pace Splinter had set, Leo stood firm in the center of the room, his katana sheathed as he instructed his siblings.

"Hoko no kamae," Leo commanded, shifting into a balanced stance.

Donnie and Mikey followed suit without question, mirroring his movements. Mari, standing beside Donnie, hesitated before rolling her eyes and copying the stance, though with far less enthusiasm.

Cat, on the other hand, struggled. She fumbled into position, her movements clumsy as she tried to adjust her footing.

Mari glanced at her, unimpressed. "You look like you're trying to hold in a sneeze."

Cat huffed. "I'm trying!"

Raph, however, remained still. Arms crossed. Unmoved.

Leo narrowed his eyes. "Raph. Hoko no kamae."

Raph scoffed. "Hoko no way." He rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck. "It's bad enough Splinter's driving us into the ground. Now you, too?"

Leo kept his voice even. "We have to keep training because, right now, we don't stand a chance against Shredder."

Mikey, already fidgeting, muttered, "Yeah, and he's up there somewhere, waiting for us!" His eyes suddenly widened. "I just freaked myself out!"

Cat made a small whimpering sound and took an instinctive step closer to Donnie.

Donnie let out a heavy sigh, pushing up his goggles. "I hate to say it, but the fact that we've been laying low might be the only reason we're still alive."

Mari crossed her arms. "So what? We're supposed to just hide forever?"

Leo shook his head. "Exactly. So until we're ready, we stay down here."

Before anyone could argue, footsteps echoed down the hall.

April rushed into the dojo, her expression urgent.

"Unfortunately," she said, breathless, "that's not an option."

The dim glow of April's phone cast flickering shadows across the lair as the team huddled around her, their faces tense with anticipation. The muffled voices from the recording crackled through the speaker, each word making the pit in their stomachs grow heavier.

Fong's voice cut through the static. "We're meeting Shredder tonight. He's got a plan to destroy the turtles."

Sid sounded skeptical. "How? He doesn't even know where they are."

Fong let out a humorless chuckle. "He says they're in the sewers somewhere, and that's all he needs to know to wipe them out."

Silence.

No one moved. No one breathed.

Mari's jaw clenched, her fingers twitching toward her tanto. Donnie pushed up his goggles, his face blank, but Cat saw the way his shoulders tensed. Mikey looked between everyone, shifting uncomfortably. Even Raph, who always seemed ready to fight, had gone rigid.

Splinter's expression remained unreadable, his fingers steepled in front of him. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but firm.

"Our home is no longer safe. The Shredder must be stopped."

Leo exhaled through his nose, arms crossed tightly. "How can we stop a plan we don't even know?"

Mikey, ever the opportunist, saw his chance to lighten the mood. With a mischievous grin, he lobbed a water balloon straight at Leo's head.

But Leo didn't even turn.

With a flick of his wrist, a kunai flew through the air—piercing the balloon mid-flight. It popped instantly, a light spray of water misting down harmlessly.

Mikey pouted. "Man..."

Cat, who had been gripping her tessen nervously, nearly jumped out of her skin. "Oh, come on! Give a girl some warning!"

Mari snorted. "What, scared of a little water?"

Cat shot her a glare. "I wasn't scared! I was startled!"

Raph, who had been leaning against the wall, finally pushed himself upright. "We have to go topside and find out what they're planning."

Leo hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Raph's right. There's no other way."

Mari smirked. "Finally. Some action."

The alley was shrouded in shadows, dimly lit by the flickering streetlamp overhead. The air was thick with the scent of damp concrete and old garbage, a reminder of just how deep into enemy territory they were.

Leo crouched behind a stack of crates, peering out at the looming structure before them. His grip tightened on his swords as he exhaled. "This is the place."

Behind him, Raph shifted, his shoulder pressing into Donnie's.

"Donnie, you're crowding me," Raph muttered.

"Sorry," Donnie whispered, stepping back—only to knock over a rusted trash can. The metal clatter echoed through the alley, shattering the silence.

Mikey jolted like he'd been electrocuted. "Ah! Sorry," he hissed, eyes darting around. He swallowed hard, voice low. "All that talk from Splinter about how we're not ready has me thinking... maybe we're really not ready."

Cat, clutching her tessen tightly, shuffled closer to Mikey. "Okay, not helping," she muttered, glancing nervously at the dark corners of the alley. "You know I hate places like this."

Mari, crouched nearby, rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you're super brave. We get it."

Cat scowled. "That's not—ugh, never mind."

Raph scoffed, his grip on his sais tightening. "You're always in over your head, Mikey."

Mikey glanced between his brothers, unease clear in his furrowed brow. "Yeah, well... this time, I think we all are. And that scares me."

Leo didn't look away from the building, but his voice softened. "It's okay to be scared, Mikey." Then, with a smirk, he added, "Even Raph is scared."

Raph turned, scowling. "I am not scared."

Leo reached out and tapped him lightly on the head.

Raph yelped.

Mikey and Cat stifled their laughter, but Raph's glare burned into Leo's smug grin.

Before anyone could tease further, a deep, guttural growl rumbled through the alley, vibrating in their chests.

A hulking figure emerged from the shadows.

Massive, covered in coarse fur, his claws scraped against the pavement as he dragged his oversized fists across the ground.

Dogpound.

"You should be."

Leo's grip tightened on his swords. "Bradford."

Mikey blinked. "Rad-Brad."

Dogpound sneered, baring his fangs. "Look what I found—six soon-to-be ex-turtles."

Cat audibly gulped. "S-Six is a weirdly specific number," she whispered.

Mikey swallowed hard. "I'm real glad it's okay to be scared."

Donnie took a hesitant step back. "You and me both."

Leo squared his shoulders, forcing a smirk. "This is no time to panic." Then, reconsidering, he muttered, "Okay... maybe a little time to panic."

Dogpound advanced, his massive frame casting a long shadow over them. His claws scraped against the asphalt, his heavy footfalls sending small tremors through the ground.

Mikey gawked up at him. "He keeps getting taller."

Leo exhaled sharply. "Then I'll cut him down to size."

With that, he lunged, blades flashing in the dim light.

Dogpound was faster.

Leo barely had time to process the shift before a monstrous fist came swinging toward him. He ducked just in time, feeling the sheer force of air whip past his head.

"Uh, let's stick together on this one," Leo called, adjusting his stance.

Raph was already charging. He slashed upward, aiming for Dogpound's exposed side—but his sais were deflected with a swift flick of a massive hand.

Donnie rushed in next, but Dogpound moved like a living wrecking ball. A single downward slam sent Donnie sprawling to the ground, the breath knocked clean out of him.

Mari darted in low, her tanto flashing as she went for his leg. Dogpound merely kicked out, sending her tumbling backward. She rolled and landed in a crouch, scowling. "Okay, so that was dumb."

Leo struck again, trying to find an opening in the mutant's thick armor of fur and muscle. He aimed for the weak points—joints, neck, ribs—but Dogpound was relentless. One powerful swipe knocked Leo off his feet, sending him crashing into Donnie.

Mikey swung in from the side, his nunchucks spinning in a blur. "Hiyah—"

Dogpound swatted him like an insect.

Mikey hit the ground hard, groaning.

Mari, gripping her weapon tightly, glared at Dogpound. "Alright, big guy. Let's see how well you fight when you can't breathe."

She lunged again, aiming a precise strike at his throat, but Dogpound snarled and caught her wrist mid-swing. He lifted her off the ground with one arm.

"Mari!" Cat yelped.

Snarling, Mari twisted, managing to land a kick to his snout. It wasn't enough to do real damage, but it made him loosen his grip just enough for her to slip free, landing hard on the ground.

Donnie coughed from where he lay. "This is hopeless."

Leo pushed himself up, panting. "Keep your head in the game."

Dogpound snarled and grabbed a trash can, tossing it aside like it weighed nothing.

Donnie flinched. "I just want to keep my head on my body."

Raph shook off his daze, eyes blazing with determination. "Come on! What are we retreating for?"

A second later, he ran straight into a dumpster.

He slumped down with a groan. "That's a good reason."

Leo wiped sweat from his brow. "Mikey, smoke!"

Mikey fumbled for a smoke bomb, gripping it with shaky fingers. But when he finally tossed it—

It bounced once.

Twice.

And barely let out a weak poof of smoke.

Raph stared at the pitiful attempt. "What was that?!"

Mikey threw his hands up. "I'm stressed! Excuse me if my aim's a little off!"

Cat, who had been hiding behind Donnie, facepalmed. "Oh, for the love of—"

Raph scowled and yanked out his own smoke bomb. "How hard is it to hit the—"

He dropped it straight into an open sewer grate.

Mikey's face split into a grin. "Not so easy, is it?"

Leo let out an exasperated sigh before throwing his own smoke bomb.

A thick cloud erupted around them.

The lair was silent, the weight of their failed battle hanging thick in the air. The turtles and their sisters sat scattered across the room, exhaustion written in every bruise, every slumped shoulder.

Leo stood with his arms crossed, jaw tight. "We couldn't take him."

Mikey flopped down on the couch, rubbing his sore ribs. "Dogpound was just too powerful."

Leo's brow furrowed. "Dogpound?"

Mikey shrugged. "What? 'Cause he's a dog, and he pounded us into the—"

Mari, seated against the wall, shot him a glare. "Finish that sentence, and I will pound you."

Mikey raised his hands in surrender. "Sheesh, tough crowd."

Leo exhaled, shaking his head. "I don't see how we're gonna get close to that meeting now."

Donnie, seated at his workbench, leaned forward, rubbing his temples. "Well, maybe we just need to find a new place to hide. I hear the sewers in Florida are nice this time of year."

Cat, curled up on the bean bag, groaned. "Okay, not a bad idea—what if we just, I don't know, left and never came back?"

April, standing with arms crossed, gave them both a flat look. "No. I'm not letting you guys give up."

The turtles barely had time to react before she continued.

"I'll spy on the meeting."

A chorus of protest erupted instantly.

"No way!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"You can't!"

"Forget it!"

"Are you crazy?"

Cat paled. "You wanna go alone into the Foot's lair? Are you trying to die?!"

But none were as firm as Splinter's voice cutting through the noise.

"Absolutely not."

April stood her ground, her eyes set with unwavering determination. "I can do this. You've been training me to be a kunoichi."

Splinter's expression darkened. "For a few weeks."

April took a step forward. "What choice do we have? Shredder's gonna attack your home, and we need to find out how. And I'm the only one who can do it."

Silence fell over the room.

The turtles exchanged uneasy glances, but the truth was undeniable.

The turtles crouched low on the rooftop, watching as April adjusted her disguise below. The dim city lights flickered against the alleys, casting long shadows as she approached the entrance to the Foot Clan's hideout.

Donnie exhaled sharply, shifting uncomfortably. "I don't like this."

Mikey, leaning against the ledge, nodded solemnly. "Me neither. Giving the enemy a free pizza? Pssh, never a good idea."

Cat, perched beside him, clutched her knees to her chest. "I don't like it either. What if they see through her disguise? What if they grab her? What if they kill her—?"

Mari rolled her eyes. "They won't kill her, Cat."

"But what if—"

"They won't."

Below, April knocked on the heavy door. A moment later, it creaked open, revealing the looming figure of a Foot Soldier.

April gave him her best customer service smile. "Hey, did somebody here order a totally delicious pizza?"

The soldier stared at her for a beat before silently shutting the door in her face.

April huffed, rolling her eyes before slipping into the alley and pulling out her phone.

"Looks like the Foot Clan are smarter than the Purple Dragons."

Leo, watching from above, smirked. "They'd almost have to be, wouldn't they?"

"Thanks, April," Donnie added, still tense. "You did your best."

A church bell rang in the distance.

Mikey let out a sigh. "At least we've still got the pizza."

But April wasn't finished.

"Oh, I'm not done yet," she said, tucking her phone away.

The turtles watched in confusion as she peeled off her hood, grabbed the pizza box, and tossed it into a nearby dumpster.

Mikey gasped, clutching his chest like he'd been personally betrayed. "Not the pizza! She's gone rogue!"

Cat audibly whimpered. "Why?"

Mari snorted. "You're both so dramatic."

Before any of them could stop her, April strode up to the front of a rundown building and knocked on the door. After a moment, a tired-looking man answered, squinting at her.

"May I help you?"

April gave him a polite, practiced smile, flashing a school ID. "Sir, I'm with the Firefighters Association, Local 94. We've received reports of some faulty wiring in this building, so mind if I have a look-see?"

The man hesitated. "Well, I don't think—"

"Thanks."

Without waiting for an answer, April slipped inside.

Donnie, watching intently from the rooftop, let out a dreamy sigh. "She's so cool."

April crouched low on the rooftop, her breath steady as she moved along the ledge. With her disguise now discarded, she pressed forward, carefully navigating the building's uneven surface.

She took a leap across a narrow gap—but miscalculated. Her foot slipped, and for a terrifying second, she dangled above the alleyway below.

April gritted her teeth, clawing her way back up, heart hammering in her chest. With one final heave, she pulled herself over the edge and exhaled sharply.

Ignoring her near fall, she crept toward the skylight and peered inside.

Below, Shredder sat on his throne, exuding an air of absolute authority. His metal-clad fingers tapped against the armrest as Dogpound and Fong entered, their postures stiff with obedience.

From the shadows, Fishface emerged, confined to a large tank of water. His mechanical breathing echoed through the chamber, a constant reminder of the mutation that had left him trapped in his new form.

April reached into her jacket, pulled out her phone, and hit the record button.

Shredder's voice was low, deliberate. "Listen carefully. Five of you will hijack a tanker truck on Houston in approximately fifteen minutes. The chemical is extremely rare, so you will not have another chance."

From the rooftop above, the team listened intently.

Raph scoffed, his arms crossed. "Chemical? What chemical?"

Donnie shot him a look. "How about we listen and find out?"

Mari rolled her eyes. "How about you both shut up?"

Raph smirked. "How about I break your shell over my knee?"

Leo exhaled sharply. "How about you three quit it so we can actually hear Shredder's evil plan?"

Shredder's voice cut through the tension below. "...which will destroy them once and for all. Now go."

Leo's face fell. "We missed it!" He turned to Raph, Donnie, and Mari, exasperated. "Oh, great. Nice going, guys."

Donnie groaned, rubbing his temple. "We've gotta get April out of there."

Leo hesitated, his jaw tightening. "No. If we rush in, we put her at risk. We wait."

April, unaware of their dilemma, was already on the move. As the Foot Clan exited the building, she followed, keeping low. She climbed down from the rooftop, careful not to be seen.

Her phone buzzed in her hand.

Leo.

"I'm gonna hitch a ride, see where they go," she whispered into the receiver.

"No, you've done enough. Now get out of there!" Leo's voice was urgent, almost desperate. "Bradford heard you! April, RUN!"

April barely had time to react before the ground trembled beneath her.

A massive shadow loomed over her.

Dogpound.

Her breath hitched as his clawed hand shot forward, grabbing her effortlessly.

"No—!" she yelped as he spun her around, yanking a thick rope from his belt. Within seconds, he had her wrists bound, her body immobilized.

He smirked down at her, the metal plates on his shoulders glinting under the streetlights. "Buckle up," he growled before hauling her over his shoulder and tossing her into the waiting van.

The doors slammed shut.

Down the street, the team sprinted toward the alleyway—just in time to watch the van peel away.

"No!" Donnie shouted, his voice breaking. "We're too late!"

Leo's heart pounded as he fumbled for his phone. "April? April! Are you there?"

Silence.

Cat covered her mouth. "No. No no no no no—"

Mari crossed her arms, her scowl deep, but her hands were clenched.

Donnie exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "She's not gonna answer, Leo. What do we do?"

Leo stared after the van, his hands balling into fists. "We gotta get April out of that van—but Dogpound's in there, and we're not ready to fight that guy." He squeezed his eyes shut. "Aw, Splinter was right! We should've stayed below."

For once, Raph didn't argue.

Instead, he clapped a firm hand on Leo's shoulder. "Can't believe I'm gonna say this but—" He squared his stance, his voice taking on a familiar cadence. "Get it together, Captain. You're our leader, so act like one."

Leo blinked. His head lifted slightly.

Then, he smirked. "You're right, Raph. That was the anxiety ray talking."

Raph raised a brow. "...That's it? You're not gonna slap yourself?"

Leo ignored him, stepping forward. "Let's save April."

Raph smirked. "And our home."

Donnie, still shaken, shook his head. "But we'll never catch them on foot."

Leo's smirk widened. "We're not going on foot."

The roar of engines echoed through the tunnels as the turtles and their sisters sped through the sewers in Donnie's latest creation—the patrol buggies.

Mikey whooped, gripping the wheel excitedly. "Yeah! This is rad!"

Cat, hanging onto the back of Raph's kart, squealed. "This is not rad! This is terrifying!"

Mari, arms crossed in the sidecar of Donnie's buggy, rolled her eyes. "Then don't fall off."

Donnie, on the other hand, looked far less enthusiastic. "It's not ready!"

Mikey leaned forward. "This thing is awesome! Does it have a radio?"

Donnie's eye twitched. "No, it doesn't have a radio! And it's not ready!"

Leo smirked as he steered his kart ahead. "Seems ready to me."

A loud clunk rattled his vehicle as one of the wheels nearly came loose. Eyes widening, Leo quickly grabbed it and jammed it back in place.

"Okay, don't pull on that, and we'll be fine," he amended.

Meanwhile, topside, Dogpound and the Foot Clan were already in motion.

The armored canine brute leaped from the van, his weight shaking the ground as he stomped toward a massive tanker truck.

With a guttural snarl, he grabbed the driver's side door and ripped it clean off its hinges.

"Get. Out."

The terrified driver wasted no time scrambling from the truck. A Foot soldier climbed inside to take the wheel, while Dogpound perched himself atop the tanker—too large to fit inside.

He turned to the soldier beside him. "Call Shredder. Tell him we've acquired the tanker and we're on our way. No problems encountered."

Then, his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror—where six approaching headlights gleamed in the darkness.

His snarl deepened. "Hold that call." He raised a clawed hand. "Run them down."

The Foot soldier slammed his foot on the gas.

The tanker lurched forward, barreling toward the group like an unstoppable juggernaut.

Leo's gaze locked onto the incoming truck. "Raph, get ready!"

"For what?"

"For this!"

With the flick of a switch, Leo's buggy suddenly split into two, sending Raph skidding in a different direction.

"Leo!" Raph barked as he regained control. "You could've been a little more specific!"

Leo grinned. "Where's the fun in that?"

Mari, clinging to the side of Donnie's buggy, groaned. "You're all insane."

As they maneuvered around the incoming truck, Donnie's eyes darted to the tank itself. His stomach dropped as he read the label.

"Chlorosulfonic acid?" His grip tightened. "Leo, I think I figured out Shredder's plan!"

Leo swerved beside him. "Talk to me, Donnie."

Donnie's voice turned grim. "That acid reacts violently with water."

Leo's breath caught. "So if he dumps it in the sewer..."

"It'll all be incinerated in seconds." Donnie's fingers clenched around the wheel. "Including the lair!"

Leo's heart pounded. "And Splinter." He snapped his focus forward, determination setting in. "We gotta stop them."

They accelerated, closing in on the truck and van.

"Donnie!" Leo called out. "You, Raph, and Mari stay with the van and save April!"

Mari twirled her tanto. "About time."

Donnie nodded. "Got it!"

"Mikey, Cat—you're with me. We have to stop that tanker!"

Cat's eyes bulged. "What?! I didn't sign up for this!"

"Too late!" Mikey whooped.

"No problem," Raph muttered.

Without warning, he detached Mikey and Cat's kart from his own.

Mikey screamed as his vehicle spun out of control, rolling backwards down the street.

Cat, already panicking, shrieked. "Mikey, do something!!"

Mikey turned, grinning at her. "I am—enjoying the ride!"

Raph smirked. "Well, that was fun!"

Leo shot him a knowing look. "Told ya!"

With another click, Donnie's kart detached as well, splitting them into four separate chasers.

Up ahead, Dogpound turned, spotting the incoming assault. He let out a guttural growl.

Leo gritted his teeth. "Mikey, Cat—let's slow this thing down! Fire grappling hooks!"

"Got it!"

Both Mikey and Cat launched their hooks, the cables latching onto the tanker.

For a moment, it looked like it might work.

Then—

SNAP!

The cables shredded apart under the strain, sending them both skidding backward.

Mikey paled. "Donnie did say they weren't ready!"

"I know!" Leo barked as he struggled to regain control.

Meanwhile, Donnie, Mari, and Raph closed in on the Foot van.

Donnie pulled a smoke bomb from his belt. "Hold your breath, April!"

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the bomb, filling the vehicle with thick, choking smoke. The van swerved violently, struggling to keep balance.

Raph took his cue. He pulled ahead, pressed a button on his controls, and launched retractable spikes onto the road.

The van hit the spikes, tires bursting as it skidded to a screeching halt.

The Foot soldiers scrambled out, weapons at the ready.

Mari cracked her knuckles. "Finally."

Raph smirked. "Come on. Let's club these feet."

Donnie frowned. "I think they're called foots."

Raph chuckled. "Just hit 'em."

The Foot soldiers lunged forward, but the three met them head-on.

Fong barely had time to react before the van door slammed into his face.

April stepped out, shaking off the ropes that had bound her.

Donnie grinned. "Nice shot!"

April crossed her arms. "Nice wheels."

Donnie puffed up slightly. "Well, I built them, you know—"

CRASH!

His kart promptly collapsed into a pile of scrap.

Donnie sighed. "They're not ready yet."

Meanwhile, back on the main street, Dogpound leaped from the tanker, grabbing a nearby manhole cover and hurling it straight at Leo.

Leo dodged just in time—only for the impact to obliterate his buggy.

He landed in a crouch, dust settling around him. He smirked up at Dogpound. "Is that all you got?"

Mikey, still recovering from his crash, wheezed, "I'd say that's a no."

Cat groaned from where she was sprawled out on the pavement. "I am never getting in a buggy again."

Leo dusted himself off. "Alright. No more distractions."

Mikey perked up. "Does that mean we can still use—"

Leo cut him off. "Mikey, no."

Dogpound cracked his knuckles, eyes gleaming with malice. "You turtles never learn."

Leo smirked, stance lowering. "Funny—I was just about to say the same thing."

Dogpound lunged forward, swinging his massive fists. Mikey yelped and barely rolled out of the way before being sent flying from the force of the hit.

Cat, clinging onto a street sign like her life depended on it, shrieked.

Leo quickly tossed a smoke bomb, using the cover to dart toward the nearest construction building.

As the smoke cleared, he, Mikey, and Mari reappeared above, standing on the rooftop overlooking the tanker.

Mikey's eyes widened. "Leo, look!"

Down below, a Foot ninja had climbed onto the tanker, unfastening a large hose.

Mari's eyes narrowed. "He's aiming at the sewers."

Leo's stomach dropped.

"The acid—" He didn't finish the sentence before barking out, "Don't let him dump it!"

Mikey wasted no time. He charged at the Foot soldier manning the tanker, nunchucks spinning as he leaped into action.

The ninja barely had time to react before Mikey's foot slammed into his chest, sending him stumbling backward.

Before Mikey could follow up, Dogpound lunged after him.

Leo intercepted the attack, his swords meeting Dogpound's massive claws in a clash of metal and fury.

The mutant dog growled, grabbing a nearby car like it was nothing and hurling it toward Leo.

Leo dodged, rolling out of the way just as the vehicle crashed into the pavement with a deafening boom.

Mari moved in next, flipping off the edge of the rooftop with deadly precision, her tanto drawn. She slashed at Dogpound's arm, her blade leaving a thin gash through his thick hide.

Dogpound snarled, jerking back. "You again?"

Mari smirked. "Miss me?"

Dogpound's response was hurling a dumpster straight at her.

She barely dodged in time.

Leo lunged again, aiming for Dogpound's exposed flank, but the mutant was ready. With a vicious backhand, he swatted Leo midair, sending him flying—

Straight into the tanker.

Leo slammed against the metal with a grunt, his impact knocking Mikey to the side as well.

Cat, who had just gotten her footing back, yelped and jumped behind a pile of crates. "NOPE. NOPE. I AM NOT BUILT FOR THIS."

Mari rolled her eyes. "Then stop standing around and help!"

Dogpound wasted no time. He lunged, grabbing Leo's wrist in a crushing grip.

Leo winced as his katana was forced into the tanker's wall. The blade pierced the metal with a sharp screech, and suddenly—

Hissssss!

A thin stream of liquid started leaking from the opening.

Leo's stomach dropped.

Dogpound's grip tightened. "You're finished, turtle."

With a fierce grunt, Leo kicked Dogpound in the chest, forcing him to release his hold. He yanked his sword free just as more of the acid dripped from the puncture.

Leo's mind raced.

His eyes flicked to Mikey, who was already back on his feet. "Mikey! Throw the water balloon!"

Mikey blinked. "Uh... what water balloon?"

Leo shot him a deadpan look. "The one you were gonna hit me with."

Mikey's face lit up in realization. "Dude, you are good."

Without hesitation, he yanked a balloon from his belt and flung it straight at the acid leak.

The moment the water collided with the chemical—

BOOM!

A violent reaction erupted as the acid was instantly neutralized. The explosion sent Mikey and Leo diving for cover behind a wrecked car as the chemical was destroyed for good.

Mari had already grabbed Cat and ducked behind a pile of shipping crates. "See?" she muttered. "This is why you don't just stand there."

Cat wheezed. "I—I am reevaluating my entire existence."

For a long moment, silence hung in the air.

Leo exhaled in relief. "Nice shot, Mikey—"

SPLAT!

A second water balloon smashed right into his face.

Leo sputtered, dripping with water. "Mikey!"

Mikey grinned. "Doctor Prank-enstein for the win!"

Mari snorted.

Cat, still sitting on the ground in absolute shock, muttered, "I hate it here."

Leo wiped his face, scowling. "You had two?! Where do you even keep them?!"

Mikey simply wiggled his eyebrows. "A prank master never reveals his secrets."

Before Leo could retaliate, the hum of an approaching vehicle caught their attention.

Donnie and Raph pulled up in the patrol buggy, April riding with them. Both turtles took in the destruction with raised brows.

Raph smirked. "Looks like we missed the fireworks."

Mari twirled her tanto, unimpressed. "Next time, try showing up before the battle's over."

Leo stood, shaking off the water. "Donnie, the go-kart worked great. Nice job."

Donnie puffed up slightly. "Thanks, Leo." He crossed his arms. "And it's a patrol buggy."

The lair was filled with the comforting scent of pizza—victory pizza, as Mikey liked to call it. He grinned as he took a big bite, kicking his feet up on the couch and savoring the moment.

"Nothing says victory like the sweet taste of pizza," he declared.

The others dug in, though Donnie hesitated, sniffing his slice with a deep frown. His nose wrinkled immediately.

"This pizza smells kind of funky," Donnie muttered, holding it at arm's length. "Where'd you get it?"

Mikey waved him off, unconcerned. "It's the one April threw out."

Silence.

Then, in unison, the entire team spit out their bites in disgust.

Mari shoved her plate away so hard it nearly slid off the table. "I hate you," she said flatly.

Cat, who had been halfway through a bite, turned pale and immediately gagged, flinging her slice across the room as if it personally offended her.

Mikey blinked. "What? We live in a sewer. Now you're clean freaks?" He shrugged, shoving another slice into his mouth. "More for me."

His siblings stared at him, a mix of irritation and outright horror.

"I'm going to be sick," Cat muttered, pushing away from the table.

Raph rubbed his temples, groaning. "I can't believe I share DNA with you."

Before anyone could beat Mikey into the floor, Splinter stepped forward, his expression softer than it had been in weeks.

"My children," he said, his tone carrying an uncharacteristic warmth. "I owe you my gratitude... and an apology."

Leo straightened, surprised. "An apology?"

Splinter nodded. "Fear clouded your minds. However, it was not the Shredder who fueled that fear, but me." His gaze swept over them, filled with quiet regret. "You overcame that fear, and performed admirably." He paused before adding, "No training today."

The sheer weight of relief in the room was palpable.

Cat slumped over the table like a dead body. "I have never loved a sentence more in my entire life."

Mari rolled her shoulders. "About time."

Then—

Splinter's sharp gaze landed on Mikey.

"Unless Michelangelo throws that balloon."

The room went still.

Mikey froze, a water balloon clutched in his fingers, mid-throw. His eyes darted to Splinter. Then to Leo. Then to Raph.

His nervous chuckle did not help his case. Slowly, he started lowering his arm.

For half a second, it seemed like he might get away with it.

Then—

Raph cracked his knuckles. "Oh, you are so gonna get it."

Mikey barely had time to react before Leo, Donnie, Raph, and Mari lunged at him, tackling him to the ground.

Cat, still recovering from the pizza disaster, sighed dramatically and flopped over the arm of the couch.

Mikey's shrieks of terror echoed through the lair.