Michelangelo lounged on the couch, legs dangling over the edge, a half-eaten slice of cold pizza in one hand and a spoon buried in a melted tub of ice cream in the other. The TV flickered in front of him, volume up louder than it needed to be. Ice Cream Kitty dozed beside him, snoring softly.

On-screen, Crognard the Barbarian shouted, "Fly, Go-lek, my lizard steed! For Wizardess the Enchantress shall be rescued by Crognard the Barbarian!"

Mikey repeated it in a forced growl. "Yeah, yeah—fear my barbarian punch. Rah..."

He tossed the pizza crust without looking. It landed with a wet splat on the floor. His foot bumped a soda can, which rolled across the room and knocked into Cat's boot.

She was standing there. Watching.

Silent.

Just like always.

But this time, she was without Elliot. It was a rare occurrence so Mikey decided ti try talking.

Mikey blinked at her, surprised. "Oh. Hey, Cat..." He waited. Nothing.

"I was just, y'know, blowing off steam." He stood and did a half-hearted spin. "Crognard-style. Kaboom. Classic Mikey."

She didn't laugh. She didn't even smile.

She just... blinked. Barely. Like she wasn't really there at all.

Mikey's grin faded. He looked around the room—scattered junk food, knocked-over furniture, sticky puddles of soda on the floor. It wasn't Crognard-style. It was... desperate.

He turned back to her. "You've barely said anything in weeks."

Still, she didn't speak. Not even a shrug.

"I keep trying to talk to you," Mikey said. "You don't even look at me."

A pause. A flicker of something in Cat's eyes. Then, like always, it was gone.

"Do you even care?" he asked, quieter now. "About anything anymore?"

Silence.

Mikey's grip tightened around the spoon in his hand.

"I miss you," he blurted. "I miss you, Cat. I miss the dumb jokes and the shiny stuff and how you always laughed at my impressions—even when nobody else did."

Still nothing.

The silence wasn't soft anymore. It was loud. Heavy. Pressing in on his ribs.

And then Mikey snapped.

"You know what? Fine! Stay quiet! Stay miserable! Maybe you like being broken!"

Ice Cream Kitty meowed sharply.

Mikey's voice cracked. "I hate this! I hate this you! I hate—!"

He stopped.

Cat blinked once. Slowly.

But still... nothing.

She turned without a word. Quiet steps. No dramatic exit. Just silence.

And that somehow hurt more than yelling.

Mikey stood in the middle of the wrecked room, breathing hard, fists clenched. The TV droned behind him. Crognard shouted some cheesy line, but it didn't land this time.

"I didn't mean it," he whispered.

But Cat was already gone.

Cat's footsteps were already fading by the time Mari stepped into the doorway. She nearly bumped into her younger sister but didn't even get the chance to speak—Cat brushed past her without a single glance, her eyes unfocused, shoulders curled in like she was trying to disappear.

Mari froze.

She looked after her, confused and uneasy.

Then she looked inside—and saw the wreck.

The living room was a war zone of crushed snacks, pizza toppings stuck to the walls, a toppled lamp, and Mikey standing right in the middle of it, arms limp at his sides. His breathing was uneven, like someone who had just screamed and didn't know what to do with the silence that followed.

"Mikey?" Mari asked, wary.

He didn't look at her.

She stepped inside, carefully stepping over a soda can.

"Mikey... what happened?"

And that was all it took.

He whipped around and ran straight to her, crashing into her chest with a sob he couldn't hold back anymore. She stumbled from the force of it but instinctively wrapped her arms around him. His face was hidden against her shoulder as the sobs came hard, fast, and messy.

"I didn't mean it," Mikey cried. "I didn't mean it, Mari, I swear—I didn't mean it!"

"Mean what?" she asked, confused, holding him tighter.

"I said I hated her. I said it—but I didn't mean it—I just—she won't talk to me—and I'm trying—and I miss her—and she just—she just left—"

Mari's eyes widened, her stomach twisting.

He meant Cat.

Mari rubbed slow circles into his shell, letting him cry. Her heart clenched at how small he sounded—like he'd shrunk down into something younger, rawer. She didn't know all the details, but it didn't matter. Mikey only broke down like this when something hurt more than he could hold.

"She's been so quiet," he whispered. "I thought maybe if I got her to talk—even if she yelled at me—anything. I just wanted her back."

Mari swallowed hard, her throat tight.

Mikey's sobs quieted to sniffles, and he didn't pull away.

For a moment, it was just the two of them. No yelling. No mess. Just a broken-hearted little brother and the sister who hadn't been there enough lately.

And then the sound of the others coming broke the quiet.

Mikey tensed in her arms.

Mari's jaw clenched. She knew what was coming.

Leo's expression dropped into stunned horror. "Mikey... what have you done?"

Mikey glanced around sheepishly, arms wide as if trying to shield the mess. "Uh, hey guys. This isn't what it looks like. I was, um, studying barbarian fighting techniques?"

Casey narrowed his eyes. "You trashed the place."

"I did not!" Mikey protested—

—just as a slice of pizza splatted from the ceiling onto his head.

Now dripping cheese, Mikey winced as his brothers' eyes turned to cold white slits. Flames metaphorically flickered behind them.

Leo's voice thundered. "This is the third time you've messed the place up in a week, Mikey!"

Before he could respond, Raph stomped forward and slammed a mop into his chest.

"CLEAN. UP. NOW!" he barked.

Then he turned on Ice Cream Kitty, who hissed at him and flung frosty flakes in his face.

Without hesitation, Raph ripped her off her cushion and shoved her into her freezer. "And STAY there!"

Mikey stood frozen, chest heaving, face flushed. He didn't even flinch when the freezer slammed shut behind his best friend.

"It better be spotless by the time we get back," Raph spat, already storming off.

"Some ninja," he muttered. "You're just a big screw-up."

"Hey," Mari snapped, stepping between Mikey and the others. Her voice was sharp, dangerous. "Don't you dare talk to him like that."

Everyone froze.

Leo narrowed his eyes. "Mari—"

"No," she cut him off. "You think he did this for fun? He's been holding everything in while you all ignore him. He's hurting, and none of you even care. So don't you dare call him a screw-up."

"Oh, so now you care?" Raph scoffed. "You've been acting like a stranger for weeks, and suddenly you wanna play protective big sister?"

"Yeah," Donnie added coldly. "You barely even talk to us anymore. Now you're butting in?"

"Oh! You know who else isnt talking to you guys? Cat!"

"She is MUTE. it's medical."

Leo's voice was low. "You haven't been acting like part of this family. But now you're here to tell us how to treat him?"

Mari's jaw tightened. Her fists curled. "Yeah. Because someone has to."

No one responded.

The silence stretched.

And then—one by one—they turned their backs and walked out.

Even April, who hesitated in the doorway, just gave a soft, uncertain look... and left.

When the door slammed shut behind them, Mikey didn't say a word.

He just stood there, trembling, mop still in his hand.

Mari walked over slowly, voice quieter now. "You okay?"

He didn't answer. His eyes were glassy.

Then, softly—"I'm tired of this."

Mari didn't push him. She just nodded.

"I'm leaving," Mikey said. "I don't belong here."

Mari nodded again. "Then I'm coming with you."

He finally looked up. "You don't have to."

"You didn't deserve what they said," she said.

"Neither do you," Mikey said.

No more words needed.

They turned, side by side, and walked out of the farmhouse without a sound.

The forest swallowed them whole.

"I'll show them," Mikey grumbled, arms crossed as he stomped through the underbrush, branches whipping past his face. "Always bossing me around. We're gonna go somewhere we're actually appreciated."

Mari followed just a few steps behind, hands in her hoodie pocket, her jaw tight and eyes stormy. "You'd think we committed crimes, the way they acted."

Mikey let out a bitter laugh. "Right? Like—sorry we exist!"

But just as they reached a clearing, a strange noise stopped them cold.

Cooing.

They both froze. Mikey's skin prickled.

"What the heck is—" he started, but before he could finish, something leapt from the trees.

"DUDE!" Mikey yelped, diving to the side as a two-legged amphibian swung down from above, brandishing a spear.

Mari instinctively reached for her tanto but paused, stunned by the sight.

It was a frog. A mutant frog.

He landed in front of them, crouched and ready, blue eyes locked in a challenge. Dirt was smeared across his head, and he wore a tattered white tee that clung to his damp skin.

"Whoa," Mikey said, raising his hands. "Easy with the stick, kid. You're gonna poke an eye out!"

The frog didn't answer. Instead, he lashed out with his tongue—smacking Mikey square in the face.

"OW!" Mikey staggered. "Okay, rude!"

Mari flinched, stepping forward. "Hey!"

But Mikey caught the tongue mid-whip and gently jabbed the frog in the stomach. "Sorry, kid. You okay?"

The frog blinked and then launched himself again, tackling Mikey to the ground.

"Ugh, stop!" Mikey shouted. "I said—!"

"Alright already, get off me!" the frog grumbled, flailing. "Gosh!"

Mikey rolled him off, panting. "You attacked me! What's your deal?"

"That was a test, obviously." The frog stood and dusted himself off like nothing happened. "Name's Napoleon Bonafrog. And you've got some totally sweet ninjitsu skills."

Mari raised an eyebrow. "You tried to spear him and call it a test?"

Napoleon grinned. "Didn't say it was a nice test."

Mikey got to his feet. "Well, yeah. I am a ninja. Dog."

Napoleon blinked. "You mean frog. You're a real ninja?"

Mikey smirked, puffing out his chest. "The realest you'll ever meet. They call me Michelangelo."

Napoleon turned to Mari. "What about you? You a ninja too?"

Mari crossed her arms. "Obviously. I'm Marietta."

Napoleon whistled. "Dang. You guys are legit."

"Wanna see something cool?" Mikey said. "Watch this. Booyakasha!"

He leapt into the air and snapped a branch clean off a tree.

Napoleon gasped. "That was awesome! Me, I'm a master of frog stuff."

He broke into a goofy dance, caught a fly mid-twirl with his tongue, and swallowed it proudly.

Mikey gagged. "Ew. But, like... mad respect."

Napoleon grinned. "Right? My people adore me. I get, like, awards and stuff. What about you guys?"

Mikey glanced at Mari. She just looked away.

He forced a smile. "Uh, yeah. Same. Totally respected. I'm basically the leader."

Mari snorted, but decided to let him have that. "Yep, the best leader around."

Napoleon's eyes lit up. "No way! Come on, Michelangelo, Marietta—you gotta see our frog fortress. It's epic. Coolest place in the whole forest."

Mari raised an eyebrow. "Frog fortress?"

"Yup!" Napoleon puffed out his chest. "Follow me!"

He struck a pose. "Boy-you-kook-sha!"

Mikey snorted. "It's booyakasha, but close enough."

Mari rolled her eyes, but she followed anyway.

And so the three of them bounded off into the trees—one frog, two runaways, and a wild new adventure just around the corner.

Back at the farmhouse, the air was thick with irritation. Leo angrily slammed a pizza box into the trash bin, sauce and cheese smearing the lid.

"I can't believe Mikey just bailed and left us with this mess," he muttered, grabbing another armful of greasy paper towels.

Casey, who was scrubbing tomato sauce off the ceiling with a sponge way too small for the job, huffed. "Totally ditched. I haven't seen him for hours."

Cat was crouched by the wall with a dustpan and rag, methodically scooping up crusts and sweeping debris into a small pile. Her shoulders were tense, her movements robotic, like she was forcing herself to stay busy. No one acknowledged her, but she didn't expect them to.

April dropped her mop with a wet slap. "Yeah? Maybe because you were all total jerks!"

The boys froze.

Even Raph stopped mid-swipe. He turned slowly toward her, stunned. "What?"

April's eyes blazed. "You guys never appreciate him. Especially you, Raph!"

Raph blinked, caught off guard. "That's not true! I—I mean..."

But he had nothing to back it up. Nothing except a mental reel of every time he'd brushed Mikey off, called him an idiot, smacked him without thinking.

Donnie, trying to smooth over the awkward silence, stepped forward with his laptop. "Guys, I think I know where Mikey is." He spun the screen around. "Local campsites have been ravaged. Witnesses are reporting... green, lizard-like monsters on two legs."

Leo furrowed his brow. "Wait. If Mikey ran off, maybe Mari's with him."

Casey scoffed. "Or maybe she just bailed. It's Mari. She's always disappearing."

Leo frowned, uncertain. "Still... you don't think she—?"

"We don't know," Donnie said quickly. "She has been unpredictable lately. No telling."

April crossed her arms. "Even if she did leave with him, I wouldn't blame her."

Raph rolled his eyes. "Oh, here we go."

April pointed a sharp finger at him. "Don't. Don't you dare. You treated Mikey and Mari like garbage!"

Raph looked away, jaw clenched.

"None of you ever ask how she's doing," April continued. "You just act like she's a burden. Like she owes you something for still being around."

Splut.

A slice of old pizza slid dramatically down the wall behind them.

April rolled her eyes. "...whatever, let's just go."

Just then, the door creaked open.

"Hey, did someone drop a fridge full of garbage in here?" Elliot strolled in, wrinkling his nose at the chaos. "I miss something?"

He caught sight of Cat quietly scrubbing the floor, her mouth pressed in a tight line. She didn't look up.

"What happened?" he asked slowly.

No one answered.

April sighed. "A whole lot. And I have a feeling it's only gonna get worse."

Meanwhile, deeper in the woods, Mikey followed Napoleon Bonafrog through thick brambles and winding trees, his arms crossed and mood still sour. Just a few steps behind him, Mari trudged silently.

Napoleon stopped at the base of a massive tree that rose like a natural skyscraper. "This is my place," he said proudly, chest puffed.

Mikey blinked. "Whoa..."

Mari tilted her head up, unimpressed but curious. "Looks like a treehouse threw up on itself."

Napoleon croaked loudly. A rope cage dropped from the branches above with a creaky thud, scooping them up. As they began rising into the canopy, Napoleon added, "I'll introduce you to the gang. They begged me to be leader, but I was all, 'I don't need that kind of responsibility. I'm a free spirit.'"

Mikey smirked. "Yeah, I feel that. My team always makes fun of me anytime I try to step up."

"Idiots," Napoleon muttered. "Everybody's pretty much an idiot."

Mari didn't disagree.

The lift stopped at the top. Frogs in mismatched gear shuffled around a dojo-like throne room. Vines curled across the beams like roots had taken control of the architecture.

Three figures stood at the center: Attila the Frog, regal and commanding in blue. Genghis, green and scowling. Rasputin, twitchy-eyed and already glaring at them.

"Napoleon," Attila said, arching a brow. "You're back?"

"He always comes back, sire," Genghis scoffed. "Like indigestion."

Napoleon rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Genghis! Attila, this is Mikey—second-best warrior ever. And Mari. She looks mean but she's not and she has a really cool knife!"

"I'm the first best warrior, right?" Mari asked.

"No, that's me."

"Oh."

"I doubt either of them are worth much," Genghis sneered. "If they're your friends."

"Shut it, Genghis!" Napoleon growled.

"Yeah, chill," Mikey added. "Is that how you treat the guy you begged to be leader?"

Genghis barked a laugh. "He nearly destroyed our sacred tree. We wanted to punish him, but he ran off like a baby."

Rasputin suddenly shrieked, pointing. "Turtles are not to be trusted! Why have a shell if not to hide secrets? And that one! She wears a mask too! What is she hiding?!"

"That I hate being yelled at by frogs," Mari muttered.

Napoleon groaned. "That's Rasputin. Don't mind him. He thinks his toenail clippings can predict the future."

"Tell me, Michelangelo and Marietta," Attila cut in, serious. "Why do you have no home?"

Mikey looked down. "We were living in a farmhouse. With our siblings. And some humans."

Napoleon froze.

So did the rest of the frogs.

"With... humans?" Attila echoed, his voice now sharp.

"Humans?" one frog gagged.

"Disgusting," hissed another.

"I mean, they're not all bad," Mikey tried, eyes wide. "I just—"

"Neither of you can't go back," Attila said, too quickly. "You're free now. From their tyranny. Stay among us, my mutant brother and sister."

"What the shell?" Mari muttered.

"See?" Napoleon whispered. "You're one of us now."

Mari crossed her arms. She didn't trust any of them.

Attila turned, the warmth gone from his tone. "They still have your siblings in their terrible clutches."

He met Genghis's eye. "You know what to do."

"Sir, yes sir!" Genghis snapped.

"Operation: Liberate Reptiles!"

Attila raised a long blowpipe staff like a war horn. "Frogs! Hop! Hop! Hop!"

From the trees, the frogs surged into motion, war cries ringing out into the woods.

The woods stretched endlessly in every direction, but Leo wasn't ready to give up.

"Mikey and Mari are nowhere," he said, pacing the edge of a small clearing. "I don't get it. They can't have just vanished."

"Mari does it all the time," Raph pointed out.

They'd split up earlier to cover more ground. Now, reunited, the group circled back to the farmhouse in hopes of finding some clue.

Casey stopped dead in his tracks. "Aw, no. What happened here?"

The others followed his gaze—and froze.

The farmhouse looked like it had been raided. Muddy footprints covered the porch, tracked in every direction, and slashed across the front wall in dripping letters were the words:

HUMANS BEWARE.

"Somebody trashed the place," Raph muttered, clenching his fists.

Leo looked around in disbelief. "It... couldn't have been Mikey or Mari?"

Raph scoffed. "No. Not even on Mikey's worst day."

"And why would either of them write 'Humans Beware?'" April asked, brows furrowed.

"To be fair, I got the vibes that Mari hates humans," Casey pointed out.

"Wait, she does?" April asked. "Wait, not important—but—am I included in—never mind."

Leo stepped closer to the footprints and squatted down. "Look. Footprints. Weird ones."

Donnie knelt beside him, scanning the patterns. "Yeah. And more over here. Pretty far apart. Like they... jumped?"

"There's more this way!" Raph called, following a line of deep splotches leading off into the woods.

April rubbed her arms. "Guys... I've got a bad feeling about this."

She barely finished her sentence when a loud, booming voice echoed through the trees.

"Now is the time, my brothers! Frogs! Attack! Liberate the turtles!"

From the shadows, dozens of mutant frogs emerged.

"Uh oh," Donnie whispered.

One of the frogs, larger than the rest and clearly the commander, stood tall with a spear in hand. "FREE OUR SIBLINGS!" he bellowed. "The human reign of terror in these woods ends tonight!"

"Did he say 'liberate the turtles?'" Leo blinked, stepping back.

April gawked. "Is he talking about us?"

"Obviously not me," Casey added with a scowl, raising his bat.

"Take shelter!" Leo shouted, grabbing April's arm. "Fall back to the farmhouse!"

They ran, dodging arrows and croaking war cries. Leo deflected a few with his katanas. Elliot grabbed Cat's wrist, pulling her behind a tree as a frog landed dangerously close. She nodded wordlessly, then sprinted with him.

They all slammed the farmhouse door shut just in time.

"Guys, what is going on?" April asked, breathless, eyes wide.

From outside, the frog commander shouted, "Repulsive humans! Hear me!"

April leaned toward the window. "Oh no. He is talking to us."

"Free our brothers!" the frog went on. "You will release them!"

Leo opened the window a crack. "Uh... these humans didn't kidnap us."

Genghis squinted suspiciously. "What? Are they forcing you to say that?"

Donnie joined him at the window. "Um, no. We're actually, uh... really good friends with these humans."

There was a long pause.

"Friends? With HUMANS?!" Genghis bellowed. "Then you are traitors! Frogs! Show the humans and turtles NO MERCY!"

Leo slammed the window shut. "Great. I was so done with that conversation."

The door burst open a second later.

Frogs swarmed the farmhouse like a wave of green chaos—crashing through walls, knocking over furniture, leaping from windowsills. The turtles jumped into action.

"Man!" Donnie shouted, swinging his bo staff. "They're everywhere!"

Casey fought back-to-back with April, using his taser to shock two frogs mid-air. "Don't mess with the Jones boy!"

April spun her tessen and swatted away one frog—but screamed as a sticky tongue snapped around her wrist, yanking her backward.

"Let me go, punk!" Casey shouted as another tongue wrapped around his arms.

Elliot threw a punch at a frog, barely dodging a tongue of his own. "You gotta be kidding me!"

But the moment he turned to help April, another tongue wrapped around his waist and yanked him off his feet.

Cat reached out instinctively, but a leaping frog knocked her back before she could grab him.

"April!" Donnie cried.

"Casey!" Raph shouted.

"Elliot!" Leo yelled.

Before they could help, the frogs leapt away with their captives—vanishing into the forest.

"They took April and Casey and Elliot!" Leo said, panting. "We can still follow their tracks—"

"Okay, okay—just..." Donnie staggered sideways. "Gimme a minute..."

And then he fainted.

Mikey and Napoleon sat on a wide, moss-covered branch inside the Punk Frogs' towering fortress. Lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, casting flickering light over the bark-woven platforms and rope bridges connecting the treetop hideout. The whole place smelled like damp moss, tree sap... and something slightly swampy.

Mari sat beside Mikey, arms crossed, legs dangling off the edge.

"So," Napoleon said, feet swinging, "in this New York place, you guys fight whole legions of foot soldiers?"

"Foot," Mikey corrected with a grin. "They're ninjas, kinda like us. Raph's all grr, Donnie's the brains, Cat's unpredictable, Leo's the fearless leader... Not me though."

Mari looked over. "Yeah, but you're the one they'd fall apart without."

Mikey blinked at her. "That... was actually really sweet, dude."

Napoleon nodded solemnly. "Your siblings sound rad. Mine just treat me like I'm in the way."

"You're not," Mikey said sincerely.

"I wasn't totally honest back there," Napoleon admitted, fiddling with a loose vine.

"It's all good," Mikey replied, nudging him with his elbow. "We've all got stuff we hide."

Suddenly—

"Let me go, you creeps!"

Mikey's head jerked up.

Mari stood, tension snapping through her spine. "That was April!"

All three rushed to the edge of the branch—and froze.

Three figures were being hauled upward into hanging branch cages—April, thrashing and yelling. Casey, growling and swinging. And Elliot, struggling silently as two frogs held him by the arms.

"Help!" April cried.

"No! Let our friends go!" Mari shouted, panic seizing her chest. Without thinking, she tried to climb down, but two frogs immediately grabbed her by the arms.

"Hey!" Mikey snarled, pushing one off her—just before another slammed into him from behind.

"Friends?" Attila the Frog stepped from the shadows. His regal posture looked menacing under the glow of torches. "You told us these humans were cruel. You escaped them."

"That's not what I meant!" Mikey gasped. "They're not like that!"

"He lied," Genghis snarled. "They both did!"

Mari struggled as frogs shoved her back toward a new cage being lowered beside Mikey's. "Don't touch me!"

"Live with humans," Attila said coldly, "suffer with humans."

Mari was forced into the cage. She hit the bars with both fists as they slammed shut.

"No!" Mikey screamed. "You don't get it! They're our friends!"

Rasputin stepped forward, snarling. "This is why we don't trust turtles! They hide behind shells and masks. They LIE."

Napoleon stepped forward. "This is insane! Mikey and Mari aren't the bad guys—"

"Silence!" Attila snapped.

Rasputin glared. "They are traitors."

Napoleon muttered, "Your mom's a traitor..."

Rasputin's eye twitched violently.

Mari gritted her teeth, gripping the bars. "You're making a mistake. We didn't do anything—"

But no one was listening.

Attila approached the crowd. "Why?" he repeated mockingly, looking back toward the caged siblings. "You dare to ask why?"

A nearby torch flared—and the tree darkened as a vision played through the flickering flames.

"There was a time," Attila began, "when we ruled these woods. Free. Wild. Happy."

Green-hued flashes showed frogs dancing through untouched forests, basking in swampy serenity.

"Then came the humans. With machines. With greed."

The forest burned in their memory. Trees collapsed. Swamps dried. Coffee shops. Gas stations. Strip malls.

"They destroyed everything."

From behind Attila, Rasputin lifted a glowing canister.

"But then," Attila said reverently, "Rasputin discovered the sacred ooze."

Mikey inhaled sharply. "Mutagen..."

"With it," Attila proclaimed, "we shall rebuild. We shall take back the world."

He raised a fist high.

"We will grow our army. Create more like us. The age of humans is over!"

The frogs below erupted in cheers.

"Frogs rule! Frogs rule! Frogs rule!"

"Frog soldiers!" Attila bellowed. "Tonight, we begin our march!"

"Hey!" Mikey snarled, pushing one off her—just before another slammed into him from behind.

"Friends?" Attila the Frog stepped from the shadows. His regal posture looked menacing under the glow of torches. "You told us these humans were cruel. You escaped them."

"That's not what I meant!" Mikey gasped. "They're not like that!"

"He lied," Genghis snarled. "They both did!"

Mari struggled as frogs shoved her back toward a new cage being lowered beside Mikey's. "Don't touch me!"

"Live with humans," Attila said coldly, "suffer with humans."

Mari was forced into the cage. She hit the bars with both fists as they slammed shut.

"No!" Mikey screamed. "You don't get it! They're our friends!"

Rasputin stepped forward, snarling. "This is why we don't trust turtles! They hide behind shells and masks. They LIE."

Napoleon stepped forward. "This is insane! Mikey and Mari aren't the bad guys—"

"Silence!" Attila snapped.

Rasputin glared. "They are traitors."

Napoleon muttered, "Your mom's a traitor..."

Rasputin's eye twitched violently.

Mari gritted her teeth, gripping the bars. "You're making a mistake. We didn't do anything—"

But no one was listening.

Attila approached the crowd. "Why?" he repeated mockingly, looking back toward the caged siblings. "You dare to ask why?"

A nearby torch flared—and the tree darkened as a vision played through the flickering flames.

"There was a time," Attila began, "when we ruled these woods. Free. Wild. Happy."

Green-hued flashes showed frogs dancing through untouched forests, basking in swampy serenity.

"Then came the humans. With machines. With greed."

The forest burned in their memory. Trees collapsed. Swamps dried. Coffee shops. Gas stations. Strip malls.

"They destroyed everything."

From behind Attila, Rasputin lifted a glowing canister.

"But then," Attila said reverently, "Rasputin discovered the sacred ooze."

Mikey inhaled sharply. "Mutagen..."

"With it," Attila proclaimed, "we shall rebuild. We shall take back the world."

He raised a fist high.

"We will grow our army. Create more like us. The age of humans is over!"

The frogs below erupted in cheers.

"Frogs rule! Frogs rule! Frogs rule!"

"Frog soldiers!" Attila bellowed. "Tonight, we begin our march!"

In their cages, Mikey and Mari clung to the bars, surrounded by glowing lanterns and war chants echoing through the treetops.

"This is bad," Mikey whispered.

High in the canopy, the four remaining turtles crouched on a thick branch, staring down at the chaos of the frog fortress below.

"Here's the plan," Leo whispered. "We wait for the army to leave, free the guys, then stop the invasion."

"Perfect," Raph muttered, gripping his sai.

"Not so perfect!" Donnie yelped as the branch beneath him cracked. He tumbled with a loud thud—straight onto the back of an unfortunate frog.

"Eh... awkward," he muttered as the frog croaked in alarm.

"Genghis!" Attila roared. "Intruders!"

"Destroy him!" Genghis bellowed.

"Eat it, froggy!" Raph shouted, leaping down with Leo and charging straight into the fray.

"Guys!" Mikey's voice rang out from a wooden cage suspended high above the chaos. "Yes! Go ninjas!"

He rattled the bars excitedly, even as the firelight flickered across his face. In the cage beside him, Mari sat with her arms crossed, watching the battle unfold below. "Took them long enough."

Down below, Leo ducked and weaved through a mess of wild frog warriors, slicing away arrows mid-flight. Raph grunted as he knocked two frogs off a ledge—only for them to slingshot back up using their tongues.

Donnie leapt in, staff spinning—until he was promptly tackled to the ground. "Little help, guys?" he grunted.

Smoke bombs filled the air, and through the thick fog, Cat darted silently, knocking out one frog with a precise swing of a fallen branch.

Back up top, Mikey clutched the bars. "Napoleon, help us out here! I gotta go full ninja on these slimy punks!"

Mari rolled her eyes. "And maybe save the others while you're at it?"

"Obviously!" Mikey huffed.

Napoleon cracked his knuckles. "Sometimes, a frog's gotta do what a frog's gotta do."

He leapt forward heroically—only to get yanked midair by Rasputin's tongue.

"Where do you think you're going, Napoleon?" the mad frog hissed.

Napoleon twisted in the air. "I think I'm going ninja on your butt!"

He kicked Rasputin straight in the jaw, sending the frog flying into a tower of crates. The crates tumbled, knocking a candle loose.

FWOOM.

The flames erupted.

"Aw, shell," Mikey whispered.

"Nice one!" Mari said, eyebrows raised. "But maybe a little less arson next time."

"Sweet ninja moves, Napoleon!" Mikey called as Napoleon sprinted toward their cages.

"I learned from the second-best warrior I know," Napoleon replied, smirking as he cracked open the lock.

Mikey climbed out and turned to Mari. "You coming?"

"Obviously."

Down below, Raph wrestled a frog off his back. "Get off me, punks!"

"Goodbye, traitor!" Genghis yelled, lunging.

"Back off!" Mikey barked, drop-kicking him midair. Genghis crashed through a railing and vanished into the smoke.

"Mikey?" Raph ran, hugging his brother..

"What are you doing?"

"Hugging you, I think."

"It's weird."

"Yeah. Let's never do that again."

Meanwhile, Mari was already making her way across the branches, heading toward the three remaining cages—April, Casey, and Elliot. All three were still trapped, suspended over the chaos below.

"Hang tight!" she shouted. "We're getting you out!"

Below them, the fire crackled louder, ripping through more of the tree.

Napoleon turned toward Attila, frantic. "The tree's on fire! We have to flee!"

Attila stood frozen, staring at the blaze like it was a nightmare made real.

"NOW, your froggy highness!" Mari shouted, dragging a panicked frog out of her way.

More frogs began to scatter as the flames overtook the branches, the fortress trembling beneath their feet.

"Napoleon's right!" one of the frogs yelled. "Run!"

Frogs leapt from the platforms in every direction, scattering like startled insects. Cages burst open with splintering cracks.

Mari helped April down, steadying her as she winced and rubbed her wrists. "You okay, Red?"

"Better now," she breathed.

Donnie was already at Casey's side, dragging him toward the nearest rope ladder. "Come on, tough guy. Time to go!"

"Where's Elliot?" April gasped, scanning the burning canopy.

"Here!" Mikey's voice rang out above. He stood atop a crumbling branch, yanking the lock off Elliot's cage with brute force. "You good to climb?"

The two scrambled down, Mikey keeping an arm behind Elliot in case he slipped. As soon as they hit solid ground, Cat rushed toward them from the shadows, wide-eyed and silent—but relief flooding her face as she threw her arms around Elliot.

"I'm fine," he promised gently, holding her close for a second. "I'm fine."

All around them, frogs were retreating—some still shouting war cries, most just trying not to get scorched alive.

But one remained.

Attila.

"Do not flee!" the frog commander shouted, staggering toward the edge of the crumbling platform. "Stand and fight! Against the humans and their allies—!"

"Don't take this the wrong way, Attila buddy," Casey grunted, winding up his hockey stick.

CRACK.

The butt of the stick hit Attila square in the forehead.

The frog dropped like a stone.

"Come on, Red!" Casey yelled to April. "Let's blow this flaming tree house!"

They bolted toward the edge just as the great tree groaned and split, a deep cracking BOOM echoing through the woods. Branches collapsed. Fire raced up the trunk like a fuse.

From the wreckage, something shot into the air—the mutagen canister, spinning end over end.

Thud.

It landed just outside the clearing, untouched by the flames... for now.

Ash swirled through the air like black snow. Mari tugged Mikey close and didn't let go. Donnie pulled Cat behind him as they ran, Leo clearing the way ahead.

When it was over—when all that remained of the fortress was smoke and embers—Attila stirred.

He groaned, blinking up at the night sky through a haze of firelight and ruin.

And found April kneeling beside him.

Her face was soot-streaked, eyes tired, but gentle.

"What...? Humans? Saving me?" Attila asked, dazed.

April gave a soft, lopsided smile. "Not all humans are bad. And I'd like to believe... not all mutated frogs are bad either, Attila."

Attila turned to look at the remains of the once-proud tree fortress, flames flickering in his reflection.

His voice was quiet.

"...The horror. The horror."

The morning sun peeked over the horizon, casting golden light over the clearing where the massive frog fortress had once stood. Smoke still curled into the sky from the blackened remains, but the mood had shifted—tired, heavy, but no longer hostile.

Attila stood tall in the center of the crowd, soot streaked across his face, but dignity in his posture.

"My frogs! To me!" he called. "Attila the Frog has never been wrong about anything in his life!"

The frogs fell silent.

"...But perhaps," he continued, "I have been a bit hasty... about these humans."

A wave of shocked croaks rippled through the crowd.

He lifted his hand and gestured toward Napoleon.

"You, Napoleon, were the only one among us to show wisdom. You believed in the turtles. In peace. You are brave, loyal, and have a good heart."

Napoleon blinked, wide-eyed. "Wait—what's happening?"

"I hereby name you General of the Punk Frogs."

Napoleon's jaw dropped. "This is literally the best moment of my life."

"Stupid bug-eyed kid is general," Genghis muttered behind him.

Napoleon smirked. "What was that, Genghis?"

"Nothing, Sir."

Attila gave a small, tired smile. "Perhaps there is a future... where frogs, turtles, and even revolting humans can live together in harmony."

Mikey stepped forward. "What about your home? Where will you guys go?"

Napoleon held up a jar of buzzing flies. "Down south. It's swampy, warm, and delicious."

Mari, standing beside Mikey, raised an eyebrow. "You have the weirdest idea of gourmet."

Napoleon grinned at her. "You get used to it."

She softened slightly, the tension in her shoulders easing for the first time in days. "Take care of yourselves, alright?"

Napoleon gave a mock salute. "You too, angry turtle girl."

"Don't push it."

Napoleon turned to Mikey. "You're a good dude, Michelangelo. I hope your siblings realize how lucky they are to have you and Marietta."

Mikey smiled, touched. "Stay froggy, Napoleon."

Napoleon turned to his frogs and raised his fist. "Frogs! March! Hop-two-three-four!"

The mutant frogs began bouncing off into the woods, their chants echoing faintly as they vanished into the trees.

The turtles stood in silence, watching them disappear.

Raph stepped forward and clapped a hand on Mikey's shoulder—then, to everyone's surprise, reached over and ruffled Mari's head too.

"You two knuckleheads better not scare me like that again."

Mari looked at him sideways. "Did you just call us knuckleheads and also admit you care?"

"I'm complicated," Raph grumbled, looking away.

Mikey laughed.

Leo exhaled slowly. "Let's go home."

Donnie, already limping a bit, muttered, "And maybe get like... ten hours of sleep."

As the group turned to head back into the woods, Mikey lingered for a second, gaze still locked on Cat.

She looked at him.

Just for a moment.

Then looked away.

Mikey's smile faltered.

Mari moved beside him silently, and the family started walking again—together, but not quite whole.

Some things had been fixed.

Others would take more time.