#Dimensional Time Difference trauma or Mutant Apocalypse trauma? Why not ✨BOTH✨!!!

[cansortofdraw]

TMNT story idea based in @tmnt-obsessed-ace's AU, Same Story Different Font.

Note: I am a HUGE fan of this AU, it is one of my favorite rise x 2012 crossovers. It is amazing, please check it out! While reading through the asks/blog posts, I kept seeing a few of these... little comments...

Same Siblings Different Family

SSDF Mutant Apocalypse Au

Loosely based on the tmnt 2012 mutant apocalypse arc (Or at least its Wiki. I have watched the series, but I haven't seen season 5 nor plan to).

🔹--- Bad Things Happen to Leo ---🔹

SSDF Leo gets portaled to Mutant Apocalypse.

Maybe he successfully built a portal device to go home or random, mysterious shenanigans (coughitwasprobablyLEONcough). Either way, it does not matter... Leo is once again trapped in another dimension, alone.

However, this time is different as he finds familiarity wandering through the wastes. To his mounting horror, Leo knows this decimated world...

New York is long gone. Everyone he knew and loved almost certainly went with it.

Despite this indescribable, soul shattering realization, Leo does what he always does. Forcing himself to keep going, he must get back to his sons. He CANNOT lose his family again.

🔹--- Just a Little More Angst (bare with me) ---🔹

Immediately Leo sets to work on a new portal, gathering parts and just surviving.

Compared to his past experience, he now has a far better understanding of machines and dimensional travel (after many, many years of study). Unfortunately, he is still no Donnie or Dani, especially with such limited and poor quality resources.

Initially, Leo's paranoia leaves him to avoid other mutants at all cost, sticking to shadows. Old traumas have left their mark but, after everything, desperation quickly takes hold.

Armored vehicles can be found throughout the wastelands. Uncommon and irreplaceable, their mechanical parts maintained religiously.

Within a week, Leo has gained a new profession... carjacking*.

The waste-ravaged, mutant survivors are hardly a challenge compared to the Yokai of his sons' dimension. Defeating them easily, Leo tries to only target the raiders and Ravagers that terrorize the lands, but it can be hard to differentiate and harder to care.

The ninja gains a small reputation as a silent thief, unseen by those who live to tell the tale. A ghost story.

Until one day...

🔹--- Bad Things Happen to Leo, but GOOD !!! ---🔹

Raph and Donbot (a robot with the mind and consciousness of Donnie) unknowingly pass through Leo's territory in the Shellraiser.

When they stop for the night, Leo jumps Raph.

The two fight.**

Raph soon recognizes Leo before getting pinned to the ground. Upon calling out his brother's name, Leo freezes.

Before either can act, Don–who had snuck up behind them–electrocutes Leo, knocking him out.

While Leo is unconscious, Don is caught up and they drag him back to camp.

Turtles are examined for injuries, cuts/bruises are patched, and electrical burns are treated. In addition, Don also runs some checks to properly confirm that Leo is really Leo (the scans are positive).

They have their big brother back!

🔹--- Bonding !!! ---🔹

Leo wakes up the next morning and there was much rejoicing, at least after some cautious skepticism, interrogations on both sides and a blood demonstration from Raph (changelings stuck).

There is much hugging, explanations are given, and a few tears may or may not be shed (no one will ever admit it).

The Turtles find that there are a few gaps in Leo's memory as he does not remember the bombing, but Don and Raph have similar memory problems so it doesn't really concern them too much.***

Leo is way too excited, finally able to tell his brothers about their nephews!

As he leads the two back to his base, Leo talks about his new home. He asks if they would be willing to come with him to the new dimension. At this point, Raph and Don have nothing left in this world and happily agree.

Plans decided, the brothers get to work on the portal. Leo does his best to explain everything he knows about dimensional travel to Don who picks it up quickly (because of course he does).

Soon the device is almost complete. All they need are a few pieces and Don knows exactly where to find them. The three pack everything into the Shellraiser, ready to go home.

🔹--- TV Show Events Happen ---🔹

(From here on out, the AU roughly follows the show but with the addition of Leo. See Fandom Wiki for more detail. Spoilers Ahead for the end of season 5.)

Along the way, the turtles meet a young meerkat mutant named Mira who tags along with them.

“Her goal, as she explained to them, is the oasis, a piece of grassland, of which only myths and legends have mentioned… Mira tells them that the Turtle in The Impossible Desert is a hermit who knows the way to the Oasis and is known as the ‘Holy Chalupa’. When this name is mentioned, Raphael and Donatello [and in this AU, Leonardo] are surprised, for among the Turtles only one has ever made use of these words: their youngest brother, Michelangelo!” - Wiki

Learning this, they pause their mission to find out if it really is Mikey. It is!

Mikey still has Ice Cream Kitty and Raph’s Giant-Fire-Breathing-Space-Turtle son, Chompy!

And there was much rejoicing! However, as the reunion is celebrated, explanations given and plans shared… things get complicated…

Specifically with Leo’s shocking discovery of Raph’s Giant-Fire-Breathing-Space-Turtle son, Chompy.

Raph can’t leave his son behind, not after they’ve just found him again (Chompy is way too big to bring back) and the others are, obviously, not going to leave Raph behind.

Suddenly, Leo’s brothers can’t come with him, and Leo can’t stay. They still wish to meet their newfound family members and promise to at least visit. As a father himself, Leo understands but, having finally gotten his old family back, Leo’s eventual return home becomes bitter-sweet.

In addition, Leo does not recognize Chompy.

Mikey’s memory is a lot better than his siblings’. Reminiscing, Mikey tries to jog the others’ memories. It helps Raph and Don, but not Leo. Everything just becomes more confusing as doubt and paranoia begins to creep in. But, no time to process this as soon they are attacked by ravagers who were following Mira.

Several action scenes, expositions and maybe some light arson later, the turtles find… apocalypse!Leonardo (will be referred to as Leonardo)…

…

……

This was never our Leo’s dimension. These were never his brothers. He’s still. Not. Home.

🔹--- Resolution ---🔹

Soon the day is saved, the final parts for the portal have been obtained, and the apocalypse turtles have been reunited with their… actual… big brother.

Maybe Leo would have been accepted regardless. Maybe they would have still come to visit his kids. Maybe they would have adored each other. Maybe they could have been a family.

But it doesn’t matter… There are no goodbyes for as soon as the dust settles, Leo slips away. Through the portal, leaving no way back. To a world that still isn’t his, having lost his family… again.

🔹--- End ---🔹

* Perhaps Leo can take this back with him. Add it to his list of "morally questionable" hobbies. ** In my first draft of this section, I ended up writing a full-on, detailed fight scene, but it didn't fit in. If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to post the long version. *** Don't know if Don also had memory problems, but Raph did and it helps the story