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daringdaisy · 1 month ago

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Tangled Shells Deleted Parts

I'm on summer break, but I need a brain break from school. While I'm not actively working on chapter four 24/7(yet anyway), I like to write it from time to time. I thought it would be fun in the meantime to share some deleted scenes and explain why they didn't make the cut.

From Chapter Four

Leonard and Danny snap their heads at Mickey's sounds of distress. Danny winces at the sound, then shrugs. "So, we can just leave him, right?"

Leonard lets out a frustrated huff. "Tempting, but no. He still owes me a can of hair gel."

Danny rolls his eyes. Leonard shot him a look, sharp and loaded. With a sigh, Danny protracts his claws when he catches the hint, "Alright, let's go save slippery dope."

Before they can sneak out of the bushes, a purple vine slithers up Leonard's leg with an unsettling grip. He hisses in pain as it digs into his skin like razor-sharp teeth. Without warning, it yanks hard at his leg, pulling him onto his back and dragging him away. Danny hastily lunges out of the bush, holding Leonard by the collar in one hand.

On the other hand, he digs his claws into the dirt, his muscles straining as Leonard is dragged closer and closer.

“You better do something,” Danny grunts, “or I’m cutting you off!”

Leonard scoffs, but he freezes, eyes lighting up. “I'm gonna haunt…WAIT, THAT’S IT!”

He rummages through his vest pockets, flipping open his comb—the blade catching the light. With a few quick slashes, the vine gives and yanks his leg free. Danny lifts Leonard to his feet without wasting a second, and they follow where the vine retracts into the clearing. Explanation:This scene is meant to make Draxum realize that the Shogun(Raph) is here, and that he must be looking for Mikey. You know, when Maximus jumped Mother Gothel in the movie. Since instead of a non-talking animal, we have the Mud Dogs, I thought it would be fun to add action here. Though, it was dragging out for what was meant to be a really short scene.

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From Chapter Two

“Did you guys hear that?” Leo whips his head towards them then side to side. Raph and Donnie exchange a look of confusion before shaking their head. Leo lets out a deep sigh, trying to ignore her voice ringing in his ears. Leo pulls at his collar, letting out breathless chuckle. “Just me or is it suddenly hot in here?”. Leo’s hands tremble as he struggles to breathe. He can feel her disapproving glare even if his back is facing her.

Leo lets out a frustrated groan, resting his head against the stone. Leo’s dagger flies in between Donnie and Raph, plunging itself into the tree. Leo holds his other dagger like a lifeline, his eyes darting everywhere. “I can’t be the only one who feels her presence!.”

They both turned their gazes towards Leo, who looked visibly distressed. Donnie’s face wore a mask of resignation, while Raph's expression was etched with concern. “Primetime, you gonna need to be more specific with that.”

“Don’t worry, I got this.” With a steady hand, Donnie readies a tranquilizer dart, aiming it carefully at Leo. Raph stands by, visibly stunned, but the calm confidence in Donnie's movements suggests this isn't the first time. Raph gets in front of him with his hands up, “Hey, so, you can’t just put him to sleep!”

Donnie tries pushing him to the side, not understanding his point. This is the only way he knows how to help. “But if I don't, Big Mama will hear it. Next, she’ll get annoyed. Then, she’ll...” Donnie hesitates to finish his sentence, horrible flashbacks coming to him.

Raph doesn't even think he wants to know the rest of that sentence. “Never mind that. You look around the perimeter for anyone watching us, and I’ll handle Primetime”. Explanation: This is back when the trio first found the entrance to the cave. While the final and first draft scenes have Leo struggling to open a portal, the first draft makes a point to emphasize it physically rather than internally. Big Mama affects Leo self-worth to the point where he's scared to even screw up once. Big Mama hates it when Leo gets like this and loses her cool, which is why Donnie has resorted to 'calming' him down instead(in this draft anyway). Raph stepping in was meant to break the illusion for the twins that this was an okay and normal thing. In the middle of writing this, I thought it was a bit too much and cartoonish (maybe I'm phrasing this incorrectly) to portray Big Mama's cruelty. ------------

From Chapter Two

but that's when they hear a high-pitched yelp from above.

The twins just stare at each other before Leo saunters away, his arms behind his head. “You know, that’s a real shame. I was starting to like him but we gotta go!”

Donnie's eyes were fixed on the portal before they drifted towards the ledge. Perhaps Leo had a point—working with the Shogun was pointless and was the wrong call on his part. Maybe it was time to go into exile for good. Yet, something deep within him rooted him in place, a nagging feeling he couldn’t ignore. Although he knew they should just leave, something tugged at his heartstrings. Ugh, he wouldn't have had any problem doing this in the past. What makes the shogun so different?

Before Leo gets far, Donnie tugs the satchel to grab his attention. Donnie looks at him determined. “We can't just leave him, Leo.” Leo is taken off guard at Donnie’s words but masks it. Leo shakes his head as he tries to keep his expression neutral. “Yes, we can. This is the only way”

Donnie clenches his fists at his sides. “But it doesn't have to be!”. He points towards the ledge, refusing to back down. “The shogun didn't have to save us back at the cliff but he did!”

Leo tries arguing back, but Donnie cuts him off. “Hell, he doesn't have to help us. He could have just arrested us on the spot, but he didn't.” Donnie lets out a deep sigh as he grabs Leo’s hands, “We have to repay the favor back.”

Leo stays quiet, his bravado falling for a few seconds. Donnie thinks he's reached him but a sly smile forms on Leo’s face. “Yeah, well, the deal changed last minute.”

Donnie can't believe he’s treating this like a goddamn joke. He gets it’s Leo, but what the hell? Donnie drops his hands, his gaze narrowing. Without even thinking about it, he grabs the satchel and throws it into the portal. Leo puts his hands on his head and looks at Donnie, flabbergasted. "Son of a-"

Donnie turns on his heel and storms into the portal. Leo glanced at the entrance and then at the portal, running a hand over his face as he groaned. Without any hesitation, he rushes into the portal. No way in hell he was about to let his brother sacrifice himself to whatever monstrosity was up there. Explanation: The same thing happens when the trio encounters the tower, and Raph goes in first. However, Mikey was initially meant to knock Raph out, forcing the twins to try and save him. I was trying to demostrate that Raph's goodness was rubbing on Donnie, whether he knew it or not, and wants to repay him for saving them earlier. I thought this shift in Donnie's character was too sudden and just not believeable. In a different version of this, Donnie calls out Leo for acting like Big Mama to get him to save Raph.

#rottmnt #tangled shells au #deleted scene

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daringdaisy · 2 months ago

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Tangled Shells

Synopsis: The magically long-haired Michelangelo has spent his entire life trapped in a tower. He seems to be destined to stay there forever without his questions about the world left unanswered until an unlikely team stumbles upon his tower for refuge. Mikey will finally discover the world for the first time and who he really is, but ignorance is bliss. "For a fleeting moment, his excitement dims, replaced by a twinge of guilt that twists in his chest. He exhales softly, cradling the picture with both hands. 'I’m sorry, Dad,' he mumbles, the words barely escaping his lips. He turns the portrait face down, taking a deep breath. And with that, he heads downstairs." Tag List:@dorkatella Author notes: I know what the poll said, but I want to give you guys something. Y'all have been waiting patiently, and you deserve something for that😭. Next, Thanks to my test readers: @queenofthewigglers and @luciniq ˋ°•*⁀➷PREVˏˋ°•*⁀➷ˏMASTERLISTˋ°•*⁀➷NEXT

Chapter 3 - The Fine Print for Freedom

⚠️CW: Implications of abuse⚠️

Mikey leans over the staircase to ensure his new friends are hidden. Once he hears his room's curtains snapping shut, he rushes towards the window. He suddenly stumbles, almost losing his balance as he trips over something. Looking down, he sees the satchel Primetime was carrying with him.

He snatches the surprisingly heavy bag as he frantically looks for somewhere to hide it from his father. His eyes land on the pottery vase near the mirror. A nagging sense of obviousness pricks at him, but as his father’s voice rings out to him once more, he knows he has no other choice.

Mikey rushes to the vase and carelessly drops the bag in. With a swift motion, he tosses his hair over the hook, ensuring his father's grip is secure before he pulls him in with a determined tug. Mikey gets on his tippy-toes and hugs his dad to try to block the vase from his view.

"Hey Dad, everything is totally fine!" Mikey blurts out with a tense grin. Not even that far into his lie, and his heart was already violently attacking his ribcage. Draxum stiffens slightly in the hug, tilting his head. "Are you okay? Your heart is racing." His voice sharpens like a blade. "Why?"

Mikey pulls back, frantically fiddling with his hair, forcing a laugh. "Uh, cardio! I was... doing jumping jacks before you got here. Gotta stay in shape, right?"

Draxum’s eyes narrow, lingering on Mikey for a moment too long. His gaze drifts around the room. Despite his son's nervous behavior, he didn't see or hear anything around the tower that concerned him. Draxum shakes off his hood, revealing the glimmer of excitement in his eyes. “I have a big surprise for you, Mikey,” he says slowly, holding up a small, weathered pouch with glimmering excitement in his eyes. "We're having your favorite lunch, roasted Brussels sprouts."

The light leaves Mikey’s eyes, and he has a pang of guilt in his heart. Here, his dad went out of his way to do something nice, and he was trying to deceive him? What kind of son was he?

Draxum swiftly brushes past Mikey and heads straight to the kitchen, his enthusiasm bubbling over. As he grabs a handful of Brussels sprouts, he launches into a ramble, expertly peeling away the yellowed leaves as he talks. "After lunch..."

Mikey blocks out everything his father says, intently gazing at the vase. As Draxum bustles around the kitchen, gathering ingredients with a hum, Mikey thinks of a better hiding place for the satchel. Just then, his eyes fell on his ceramic shelf. Mikey doesn't have to find a new hiding spot; he just has to make the vase a less obvious choice!

He grabs the vase with light fingers and quickly approaches the shelf. He shuffled around his pottery as quietly as possible to put the vase in the back. As Mikey puts down the vase, he feels his father's hand on his shoulder. Despite his body screaming at him not to, he slowly turns around to meet his father's gaze. He braces himself to hear his dad's disappointment in him.

Draxum raises an eyebrow, his tone faux-annoyed. "Michelangelo, did you hear a single word I said?" Mikey lets out a shaky chuckle. "I'm sorry, what?"

Draxum lets out a small huff, but is not too surprised. Mikey always did have his head in the clouds. "I was thinking we could have our own light show after lunch. I know how much you like making those light glyphs."

Mikey's expression falters when he hears his father's idea. He loves the tradition and all, but it doesn’t measure up to the floating lights like when he was younger. He weakly pumps his fist in the air, his gaze cast down. “That…sounds good to me.”

Draxum may not be the best at reading people, but Mikey always makes his feelings pretty obvious. Draxum gently lifts Mikey's chin, a small frown on his face. "But what?"

Mikey looks upstairs, and a sudden idea pops into his head. If his father is so worried about him being exploited, maybe he could use the three travelers as his argument. They’ve had the chance to whisk him away and do whatever they want with his powers, but haven’t.

Mikey claps his hands in front of him with a lopsided grin. “Okay, I've been thinking about what you said earlier, and," Draxum holds the bridge of his nose as he exhales, "I hope you're still not talking about those lamentable lights." Mikey slowly backs towards the staircase, "I'm leading up to that and-"

Draxum rubs a hand over his face, trying to keep his composure under control. "I thought we already dropped this issue." Despite picking up on his father's growing irritation, he pushes on. "No, Father, you think that the world only wants to use me-"

Draxum shakes his head, a strained laugh leaving his lips. "Trust me, father knows what's best for you." Mikey groans at his father's persistence, though he realizes the hypocrisy shortly. "Then trust me when I say-"

Draxum crosses his arms, sending him a warning look, "Mikey, you can just look outside at night and see them." Mikey pleads with his father, his hand reaching out towards the handrail. "Oh, c'mon! I know what I'm saying-"

Draxum throws his hands in the air, his fists shaking, "Enough with the lights already, Michelangelo! You are never seeing those lights!"

He couldn't speak or think, and his limbs felt heavier than a boulder sinking. His father hadn’t yelled at him like this in years. He’d been so careful never to push him this far. And yet, here he was. Tears begin to gather at the corners of his eyes as he instinctively holds his breath, trying to make himself as small as possible.

Daxum marched towards Mikey, his eyes narrowed into slits as his volume grew harsher. “Why do you insist on chasing something so trivial?” Mikey looks away, but Draxum leans in, lifting his hand to grab Mikey's chin, but stops himself. His fingers hover, twitching in the air before they curl into a fist, his arm falling back to his side.

Draxum's eyes burn with frustration, “Is this not enough? Am I not enough?" he demands, his voice cracking despite the anger.

Then, he catches his reflection in Mikey’s eyes. It stops him dead in his tracks—a monster. The rage on Draxum's face crumbles into something softer. Regret. "Mikey," he murmurs, stepping back, "I didn't mean to."

Mikey snaps out of his trance, pulling back from his touch. He pressed his lips together, forcing his breath to stay even. He nodded, a tense smile on his face. "No, it's fine." Without letting his father get another word in, he quickly goes upstairs into his room.

Draxum collapses into a chair, a tired sigh leaving his lips. Mikey's fear shouldn't bother him, and yet...he scrubbed a hand over his face. He didn't need his own creation to be afraid of him. He needs compliance. He's no good to the mission if he's broken.

Mikey buried his face in his pillow, gripping the fabric tightly as muffled sobs shook his shoulders. Each breath came out uneven, his chest aching to hold it all in.

When Mikey lacks the energy to cry anymore, he looks defeated at the vibrant drawings swirling across his ceiling.

Was he asking for too much? Why couldn’t his dad just trust him? Deep down, Mikey questioned whether he truly deserved that trust. He had broken his father's number one rule: don’t let anyone in. After everything his dad had done for him, Mikey had the audacity to betray him and still expect the same level of trust in return. That wasn't even considering he was about to rat out his new friends for his own wish! What was he thinking?

Maybe his dad was right to be cautious. As Mikey ran a hand through his hair, he felt the weight of his emotions pressing down on him, and tears began to prick at the corners of his eyes. In that moment, he couldn't shake the haunting thought: he really was a terrible son.

Piebald seemingly flies out of nowhere and lands between his eyes. Piebald tilts her head to the side, letting out a soft chirp. Mikey sighs, "No, I am not okay. Thanks for asking, though."

Piebald hops off his face, nuzzling against his cheek. Mikey can't help but smile weakly, appreciating his little friend'sattempt at comforting him. As he strokes Piebald’s tiny head, the pendant around her neck catches the light, casting a faint glow onto his face.

He squints as the pendant's silhouette flickers against the ceiling. His eyes trace the glow, and for the first time, he notices that one of his drawings shares an eerily similar silhouette. Propping himself up on his elbows, he raises Piebald higher, letting the pendant align with the ceiling pattern.

Mikey furrows his brows, the déjà vu creeping over him like a shadow. He bites his lip, trying to piece together the fragmented memory tickling at the edges of his mind. He’s still lost in thought when a faint whisper breaks through his haze.

“Pst.” Mikey lifts his head, his attention drawn from the ceiling by Primetime's voice. He scans his surroundings, and his gaze lands on the closet, where Leo and Donnie are pressed tightly against the wall, barely visible in the shadows.

Leo and Donnie had contorted themselves to fit into the small space, and Mikey couldn’t help but chuckle weakly at the sight. Donnie pushes Leo out of the space, sending him tumbling onto the floor. Piebald flies onto Leo, pecking at his head. Mikey propped himself up on the edge of the bed, peering down with concern, then towards the doorway.

"Michelangelo!" Draxum's footsteps marched up the stairs. Mikey's throat suddenly felt drier than the desert. "Uh-," Leo's shaking his head, mouthing "lie" to him. Despite himself, Mikey swallowed, forcing an awkward laugh.

"I just knocked over an empty paint bucket when I climbed into my bed," Mikey hesitated, growing more unsure.

"You know, the beautiful paint crafted from the white seashells you gifted me last Christmas! It's remarkable how those tiny pieces of the ocean can just be turned into..."

Leo mouths, "What the hell?" as Piebald and he look at each other in disbelief before she facepalms.

The footsteps stopped midway, and a small huff was heard from below. "Alright, I get it. Just be more careful next time." He gave one final sigh . "I'll be down here if you want to talk."

Mikey let out a breath, his shoulders sagging. Mikey wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or horrified. One thing was certain: he just lied—again. All this deceit was accumulating far too quickly for him!

Leo hopped onto the bed and wrapped an arm around Mikey's shoulders. He chuckled breathlessly, "That has to be one of the worst lying I've ever seen."

Mikey threw his hands into his face, but Leo continued, "The more details you add, the more likely you’ll mess something up. Keep it short and sweet.”

A sly smirk formed on his face as he added, "If you work on those things, you'll almost be as great as me!" Mikey peeked through his fingers. "But lying is a horrible thing."

Donnie steps out of his hiding spot, smoothing out his clothes. “No, lying isn't a bad thing. It's just a tool to avoid trouble and severe punishment." Mikey frowned. "I don't think being grounded is that severe."

Donnie stares blankly at him. "What is that? Is that where you're buried in the ground with your head sticking out?" Mikey flinches at his words, his eyes wide with alarm. "What makes you say that? I just lose some privileges."

That seemed to make the twins pause. Then, almost absentmindedly, they started sharing childhood stories—offhand remarks about punishments they’d endured.

A wry smile graces his face as he recalls. "Well," Leo grimaced as he tugged at his gloves. "Whenever we messed up a mission, we were left with friendly reminders to do better."

"Or having to run drills until we could barely stand," Donnie slowly added, as if expecting to hear something else. Leo's face lit up as he recalled, "Oh! And remember when one of us got locked up? We’d hatch these ridiculous plans to sneak food in!"

A soft creak came from somewhere in the room, too quiet for anyone to care besides Piebald. She flew in front of the closet, cocking her head to the side. From inside the closet, the faintest sound, a quiet inhale, went unnoticed.

Mikey’s mouth went dry. Being grounded suddenly felt like a joke.

Donnie cleared his throat, shaking off the moment. "Moving on—lying is just pretty packaging without any substance, like compliments!"

Leo muttered something about how that never stopped Donnie from chasing them, earning him a swift slap to the head. A small huff of amusement left Donnie's lips, "Without them, Leo would currently be monologuing his way into a cell.” Leo huffed. “Rude.”

Mikey frowned even deeper, unsure of what to be more upset with now.

Leo rubs the back of his neck with a lopsided grin. “Could you not be so blue? That's my signature color.”

Donnie sat beside Leo. “I noticed you have a sewing kit. Would you consider yourself a good seamster?” Mikey furrows with eyebrows, "Yeah?"

"Would you do me the great honor of sewing my dumb brother's mouth up after that poor consolation?" Donnie sneered.

Leo gasped, clutching his chest like he’d been mortally wounded. "And let the world lose such a beautiful voice? I think not!" Leo puffs out his chest, "Besides, I'd like to see anyone do better."

Raph finally pushes the door open, struggling to escape the cramped space. Piebald lands on his head when he's finally out. He rolls his shoulders, slightly stiffer than usual, like he’d been sitting with something heavy. “For starters, you could actually take it seriously.”

“Hey,” Raph says, rubbing his shoulder. “You want to talk about it?” His voice is earnest, but his eyes are distant, as if something is weighing on him. For a split second, his gaze flickers towards the twins.

Mikey opens his mouth to answer, but Donnie interrupts him. "What's the point? We all heard the argument without fail." Raph stares blankly at him before shaking his head incredulously at Donnie's apathy. Leo adds in, "Besides, it's a story as old as time. An oppressive parent afraid to loosen their grip on their child."

Mikey elbows him in the side. "Overprotective," he corrects, emphasizing each syllable. Donnie waves his hand dismissively, "That's just a flowery way of saying oppressive."

Raph coolly states, "Raph ain't here to pick sides, but there is a difference. Overprotective means he cares."

He rubs the back of his neck, "In this case, his dad is just terrible at showing it." Mikey hums in agreement, "See? Thank you, Raph."

"Okay, but not letting you see the lanterns festival is a bit controlling, don't ya think?" Leo mused

Mikey blinks, his jaw slightly dropping. "I’m sorry, lantern festival?" Leo furrows his eyebrows, “Was that not what you were arguing about?”

“No, it was, but…” Mikey hesitated, confused, knitting his features. "My father always insisted they were just stars."

“Oh, please!" Donnie scoffed, his lips curling into a sarcastic grin as he crossed his arms. "Stars maintain relative consistency in their positioning and visibility due to Earth's axial rotation and orbital mechanics."

He gestures towards the lanterns painted on the ceiling with a lazy hand. "The lanterns, however, appear in precise intervals only three times a year. Your father’s claim is astronomically unsound.”

The others shared glances, and the room fell into an awkward silence. Leo scratches the back of his head. "Now explain that in a non-nerdy way." Donnie sighs deeply, holding the bridge of his nose, "Give me a second. My dumb dumb is a bit rusty."

Mikey, oblivious to the full meaning behind the lanterns, tilted his head. "So… what exactly is the festival for?"

Raph grew quiet at the mention of the lanterns, his usual confident stance faltering. His fingers absentmindedly traced the edge of his belt, his gaze shifting toward the floor. The weight of the conversation seemed to settle heavily on his shoulders.

Mikey blinked, his smile fading as he caught the shift in Raph’s posture. Something about the way he went quiet sent a strange unease through him.

"Raph?" Mikey started, his voice softer now, but before he could finish his thought—

"Well, they're for the missing princes..." Donnie began to explain, but Leo’s hand shot out, clamping over his brother’s mouth. Donnie let out a muffled squawk, his eyes narrowing in immediate irritation. He peeled Leo’s hand off with exaggerated disgust. “Must you always resort to such barbaric—”

Leo gestured his head toward Raph, his expression unreadable. Whatever Donnie had been about to say died on his tongue. He blinked, his mind catching up as realization flashed across his face.

A beat passes. Then another.

Raph inhaled slowly, the words suffocating his throat. “…The lanterns are for my brothers.” His voice was quieter now. “They send them up every year on their birthdays… in hopes that they'll come back.”

Mikey's excited curiosity wilts at Raph's words, a shadow crossing his face as the sparkle in his eyes fades. Raph notices immediately, a pang of guilt settling in his chest. He glanced at the twins—Donnie fidgeting awkwardly, Leo uncharacteristically silent. Too much. He’d said too much.

"But hey," Raph forces a smile, "The festival itself is pretty great."

Mikey blinked, a little startled by the shift. Raph’s grin turned a little more genuine, and Piebald nodded along with everything he said. "There’s music, arts and crafts, performances, and food."

Mikey hesitated. Raph could still see the uncertainty in his eyes, but there was a spark—a little one. Leo elbowed Mikey with a smirk. “And, y’know, it’s real easy to lift from the vendors if you—”

Raph didn’t even look as he smacked Leo upside the head. “Ignore him.”

Donnie snorted, covering his mouth just a second too late, "You know, you could still let Mikey sew your mouth shut." Mikey couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. Raph watched him for a moment, then exhaled, relieved. That was better.

Suddenly, the floorboards downstairs groaned again, and everyone stiffened. Leo quietly mutters, "Please tell me that was your stomach, Raph." Everyone looks at Leo unamused, but Leo simply shrugs, tensing again upon hearing Draxum coming up the stairs.

The twins try squeezing back into the tight fit between the closet when Raph yanks them back by the collars. "Can't you just portal us outta here?" Leo opens his mouth to argue, but realizes he has a really good point. Donnie slaps Leo on the back of the head again, "Why didn't you think of that earlier?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because we were all panicking!" Leo harshly whispers. Leo takes a grip of a dagger and slashes into the air, a brilliant blue line arcs gracefully, forming a vertex. With determination coursing through him, Leo firmly grabs Donnie by the collar and hurls him into the portal. Donnie yelps mid-air, vanishing with a fwoosh.

Raph blinks, "Did you just-". Leo brushes off his hands, unfazed as ever. “What? I gotta make sure my brother’s safe first.”

Mikey’s stomach dropped. He hadn’t even realized how tightly he was holding onto the idea that they'd stay—not forever, but at least a little longer.

“Oh, well, travel safely,” He tried to smile, but it felt like his face wasn’t cooperating. His fingers twisted in his hair as he looked down, pretending to be casual. Pretending he hadn’t just lost something before it even started.

Leo paused at the portal’s edge. “Don’t worry, we’ll be back. I gotta grab my satchel.” Raph’s eyes narrowed. “You lost the benkan?”

“Temporarily misplaced,” Leo corrected, voice already trailing as he sprinted into the portal. “PRIMETIME—!” Raph barreled after him.

Just as the portal collapses on itself, Draxum draws back the curtains. "What was that?" Draxum frantically looks around the room, "I swear I heard voices up here!"

Mikey takes his sweet time turning around, a tense smile on his face. He didn't know what to say until he noticed the eyebags on his dad's face, “Maybe if you had a good night's sleep, you wouldn't be hallucinating things."

Well, he was kinda telling the truth. Draxum stares at him, frowning. Mikey's skin was crawling with nerves. Did he see right through him?

Draxum finally rubs his eyes, "That shouldn't matter, I had coffee this morning." Mikey crosses his arms, "Okay, but that can only do so much. Besides, you wouldn't need coffee if you just—"

"As much as I appreciate your concern," Drax gently cuts in, "it's my job to worry about you." Draxum takes tentative steps towards Mikey, "Speaking of which, we need to discuss what happened earlier."

He sighed, like it physically hurt to admit. "I shouldn't have raised my voice at you, but I can't help it when you keep putting me in this difficult situation."

Draxum puts his hands on Mikey's shoulders, looking down at him with guilt. Mikey's eyes widen, his voice spiking with concern. "No, of course not!" Mikey rubs the back of his neck, looking towards the side. "I know you just want to protect me."

Draxum gave a short nod. “I appreciate your understanding,” he said, still slightly stiff but sincere. “But I still handled the situation wrong.”

He hesitated, choosing his words. “If I made you feel unsafe… or unheard, that was never my intention.”

Mikey hesitated for a second. The whole ordeal was still nagging at his head, but what else could he do? That's his dad. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Draxum, giving him a tight squeeze.

“I know,” he said quietly. “But… thanks for saying it anyway.” Draxum froze, then rested a tentative hand on Mikey’s back. Draxum pulls back with a small smile, “I know this doesn’t make everything right, but you can request whatever you want for your birthday, within reason.”

Mikey silently nods, subtly glancing at a paint can—an idea brewing in his head already.

The two go downstairs, his father insisting they eat the Brussels sprouts he made. When they pass the fireplace, Mikey’s eyes linger on his painting. Mikey appreciated the apology. Really, he did.

But it didn’t smother the fire in his heart. He had to see the lights, no matter what. Not when he had the key in his hands, or a pottery vase in this case.

Mikey stops in his tracks, catching his father's attention. He tries to seem casual, his voice even, "I know what I want for my birthday. The paint made from the white seashells." Draxum's eyes widened at the sudden request, "But that's a three-day trip."

Mikey nervously tugged at a strand of his hair, his eyes locked onto the mural before him. "I just thought it was a better idea than the floating lights." Draxum sighs, gently grabbing Mikey's hands. "You're sure you'll be fine on your own?" Mikey squeezes his father's hands reassuringly, but the words feel bitter on his tongue. "I know I'm safe as long as I'm here."

Mikey’s smile lingered as he watched Draxum give one last searching look before nodding, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. When his father turned to grab his cloak, that smile cracked. Just slightly. Mikey forced the calm back into his face before packing Draxum's satchel. Draxum descends down Mikey's hair in a few minutes, slowly approaching the entrance.

Draxum feels a knot in his stomach when he takes one final look at Mikey. Something about Mikey’s smile seems false. He couldn’t place his finger on it, but knew something was wrong. Drax lets out a small huff, finally turning his back on Mikey.

He shouldn’t care about him so much in the first place. He's not supposed to be more than a weapon to him. And yet here he was getting a birthday gift for himself... No. This was to maintain control.

Mikey leans against the windowsill as he watches the vines uncoil and disappear from his vision. He drifts his attention towards the mural again, the lights almost calling his name. Before he even knows it, he is standing in front of it, his hand grazing over the lights.

Piebald flutters over to Mikey’s shoulder, chirping to grab his attention, but Mikey doesn’t tear his gaze away. A soft smile graces his face as he mumbles more to himself, “I can’t wait to see them.”

“You really want to see those lanterns, huh?” Donnie muses, eyeing the painting. Mikey jolts back in surprise, slipping off the fireplace counter. Raph catches him one-handed, barely shifting his stance. "Easy there," he notes, setting Mikey down like it's nothing.

Mikey grasped his chest, steadying his breathing. Leo pops right in front of him, a playful smile as he teases, "Sorry about him. I've always had this hunch he's possessed by a demon-" Donnie shot Leo a quick glare. “—with how he’s always creeping up on people,” Leo finished without missing a beat.

Mikey waved a hand, forcing a tense smile. “No, it’s not that. I just… didn’t hear you come in.”

"Well, we did try to get your attention," Raph remarks, rubbing the back of his neck. Donnie jumps off the fireplace, shoving Leo towards the side to take his spot. He leaned his cheek against his hand and added, "But it was almost like the painting enraptured you."

Raph's eyes glance around the room. "Hey, not to sound rude, but you still have the bag, right?" His tone is calm, but there's an edge creeping in.

Leo perks up, gesturing toward the empty spot near the window. “Yeah, I couldn't help but notice that my bag isn't where I left it."

Mikey hums innocently, tapping his chin. "What bag?"

Donnie folds his arms. “The one my brother came in with.” He steps closer, voice flat and suspicious. “The very distinct, impossible-to-misplace bag.”

“Oh,” Mikey hums thoughtfully, rocking on his heels. “You mean that bag.”

Leo steps forward, hopeful. “Yes, exactly. My bag. Where is it?”

Mikey turns to face them, clasping his hands behind his back. “I’ll give it back...” he starts, then lets the words hang in the air a moment too long, “…if you take me to see the lanterns.”

A beat of silence.

When Mikey lays out his condition, Raph doesn’t react right away. His arms crossed, fingers resting lightly on his biceps — not tense, just thinking.

Leo forces a smile, his panic bubbling to the surface. “As easy as that sounds, my twin and I are not exactly simpatico with the kingdom. It would be easier for us all if you gave the bag up.”

Mikey's lighthearted expression falters slightly, a small frown on his face. "You can tear this tower brick by brick, but you're not finding your satchel without me."

Leo’s pulse skipped. Okay. Okay, this is fine. Everything’s fine. Except it’s not. His fingers twitched toward his belt, a reflex for a dagger that wouldn’t solve this. Donnie puts a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head no. There has to be a move he's missing, right?

“So, let me get this straight,” Donnie says, his voice tight, the usual edge of sarcasm replaced by something sharper. "We take you to see the lanterns, bring you back home, and you'll return the satchel?"

Mikey nods enthusiastically, clasping his hands together. “I promise! I always keep them!”

Leo quirks an eyebrow, before glancing at Raph with skepticism. He shakes his head with his hands up, “Don’t give Raph that look. I might trust him more than I do you.”

Mikey knows he’s close to sealing the deal. He just needs one of them to agree, and they’ll all follow.

He glances back at Piebald, then at Raph, a sly smile growing on his face. He wasn't serious, but if it pushed them over the edge... “That or you let Piebald stay with me forever.”

Raph glares at Leo when he sees his smirk, “Don’t you even-"

Without even thinking, Leo snatches Piebald out of the air. Piebald lets out a sharp chirps, curses probably. Leo holds her to his ear, “Oh, what was that?” He nods solemnly, eyes wide with mock sincerity. “Aw, thanks for taking one for the team. I won’t miss ya!”

Piebald stares at Leo in disbelief before pecking his hand. Leo winces as he holds back a yelp as he presents her Mikey, “No refunds! Attitude and headache included!".

Whap! Raph smacked Leo on the back of the head. The impact made Leo’s grip slip, sending Piebald flapping back to safety on Raph’s shoulder, perching smugly and fluffing her feathers. “Touch her again and I’ll let her peck your face off,” Raph warns.

Leo ducks behind Donnie, barely peering over his shoulder. "Sorry for trying to find a way out of this!"

Donnie's fingers twitch as his grip on the situation is slipping. Worse, he can’t blame Big Mama for rigging the strings this time. But somehow, it still feels like she’s there, tightening the wires around his wrists. Donnie scrubs a hand over his face, sighing. “This is rapidly devolving.”

Mikey clears his throat, fidgeting with his hair, "So..." Raph exhales slowly, rubbing his face. "I’m seriously being held hostage over a satchel… again." Leo crosses his arms, grumbling under his breath, "Okay but unlike Mikey, my terms benefited everyone." He doesn’t know why Leo’s acting like this is new. Big Mama always plays dirty. The deck's always stacked against them. He lets out a dry, humorless chuckle. "And yet again, we've ran out of moves. Checkmate at its finest." It's not the loss that's bothering him, it's the fact he had no moves in the first place.

Raph looks back towards Mikey, reluctantly agreeing. “You're not leaving much of a choice here, little man."

Leo opens his mouth to argue before closing it. It's clear he's not winning this one. Mikey blinks, caught off guard. The smile slips slightly before he catches it and pastes it back on. He didn't actually think his bluff would work.

"OHMIGOSH," he glances back at his painting before jumping around ecstatically, "I'll be back really quickly!"

He bolts for the stairs, legs moving faster than his footing. On the third step from the top, he trips hard and tumbles back down with a dramatic crash. His limbs awkwardly sprawled on the floor, and everyone winces at the sight. Before any of them can check on him, Mikey quickly gets up, insisting that he’s fine.

He nearly overshoots his room but catches himself just in time. Inside, he slips his kusari-fundo into its holster, donning his mid-sized cloak, and stuffing a smaller sketchbook into the inside pocket.

As he leaves the room, a portrait of him and Draxum hugging on the nightstand catches his eye.

For a fleeting moment, his excitement dims, replaced by a twinge of guilt that twists in his chest. He exhales softly, cradling the picture with both hands. “I’m sorry, Dad,” he mumbles, the words barely escaping his lips. He turns the portrait face down, taking a deep breath. And with that, he heads downstairs.

Mikey bounds down the stairs with some pep in his step. “Okay! I’m ready!”

Raph tilts his head to the side, a slight smile on his face. “You pack light.”

Leo takes a quick glance at Mikey, letting out a small hum of approval. “Yeah, we don’t need anything to weigh us down”

Donnie arched an eyebrow at the trail of Mikey’s hair strewn across the room. “Shouldn’t we do something about his hair then?”

Mikey waved his hand dismissively as he made his way to the window. “It won’t be a pro—” Suddenly, he choked on his words, stumbling backward in surprise. Donnie had stepped right on his hair. With a smirk, he quipped, “You were saying?”

Mikey pulls his hair free, rubbing his head. “C'mon, let's just go now!”

Raph eyes Mikey's hair before speaking up."We should braid it."

Leo throws his head back, groaning, "With that amount of hair? That would take time we don't have! Only a Todd Scout would have the patience for that!"

Raph took a deep breath and attempted to reason with Leo, but he merely shook his head, a mischievous smirk on his lips. “Nope,” he declared with a playful glint in his eyes. “It’s my way or the highway.”

He paused for dramatic effect before adding, “Or, in our case, straight below.” Everyone freezes.

Before anyone can ask, it's too late. Leo flicks out both his daggers, blue flickers of light slicing through the air. Donnie sighs, not even surprised in the slightest. "You son of a-"

A shimmering blue line swept around the group, encasing them in an electrifying blue hue just as the ground beneath their feet gave way, plunging them into the portal.

Different shades of blue faded together like the northern lights as they fell deeper in. One moment, it felt like they were floating on clouds, and the next, they had anchors weighing them down. The wind was rushing past their ears, or maybe it was sound unraveling.

Mikey’s cloak whipped around him as he tumbled through the vortex, wide-eyed and laughing. “This is awesome—!” Donnie's dry voice pierced through the chaos, crossing his arms. "Would have appercaited the heads-up Prime." Control might be gone, but sarcasm? He always has that.

Leo twisted in the air, grinning like a madman, "Don't forget to stick the landing, guys!" Raph screamed, arms flailing as he spun head-over-heels toward a chasm of white light. “Y’ALL ARE TOO CALM ABOUT THIS FOR RAPH” The white light embraces them, the world fading as their eyes are blinded. The world turned inside out and sideways. Then, it spits them right out in front of the cave entrance.

Mikey tumbled through the air, rolling to a dizzying stop. Piebald peaks out of his hair, weakly chirping before hiding back in it. He instinctively covers his eyes as he sits up, still adjusting to the light.

Mikey pauses when he feels a strange sensation brush against his skin. He glances down at his hands, where blades of grass cling stubbornly to his fingers. He blinks a few times before the realization hits him—HE’S OUT OF THE TOWER!

He jumps up to his feet, nearly stumbling. For a second, it almost scared him how much space there was. He slowly spins as he takes in everything—the gentle breeze, the sun filtering through the canopy, dancing on the floor, and the earthy smell of damp soil.

A couple of cypselas fly past his face, and he tries capturing them in his hands, laughter erupting from his throat.

The wind grows stronger, blowing them further into the forest as if to taunt him. Back in the tower, he would’ve just watched them drift away. Now, he runs—determined not to let them go this time.

He slows for a second, unsure if the forest will swallow him whole.

Then the wind picks up again, carrying the seeds forward. And he’s off. Somewhere not far behind, the group's landing wasn't as graceful.

Donnie's vision fades back in, the sun beating down his face. It feels like his head is about to burst, blood rushing towards his head. His eyes catch two figures a few feet away from him. Raph sprawled out on his back, his hands over his face, and Leo landed face first, eating a mouthful of grass and dirt.

He starts laughing at his brother's predicament. "Weren't you the one who said stick the landing?" Leo lifted his head to glare—only to see Donnie dangling upside down from a low-hanging branch, arms crossed like a sulking bat. He falls back laughing, rolling on the ground, "Like you're in a better position." Donnie shrugs, a smirk on his face, "No, I stuck it. Just not in the way you meant." Raph props himself on his elbows, his sense of balance out of whack. He holds his chest, trying to steady his breathing. He blinks, adjusting to the sunlight, then turns to the twins still laughing like lunatics. “How can you guys be laughing! We-” Raph freezes. A flicker of clarity pierces the panic. He sits up, counting everyone up-there's only three of them. He looks around, exclaiming "WHERE'S MIKEY!"

Leo and Donnie's laughter die on their tongue as dread settles over the trio. Donnie struggles to free his foot from the branch, swinging helplessly until a sudden idea strikes. He begins to sway deliberately, building momentum, and with a final push, he hauls himself onto the branch. He should have a higher vantage point here.

Leo and Raph scramble to their feet, eyes darting, scanning the clearing again in growing panic.

Leo starts pacing back and forth, his clothes feeling too tight all of a sudden. He tugs at his bandana as he mumbles this is all his fault. Losing Mikey. Losing his bag. Stranding Donnie and he in the kingdom. Big Mama was right, he really is good for nothing without orders.

Raph puts his hands instively on Leo’s shoulders to get him still. He pauses for a moment when Leo doesn't swat him away immediately. He doesn't comment on it, quietly saying instead. "Hey, take a deep breath with me.”

Leo furrows his eyebrows, his jaw tight, but follows Raph’s lead. It feels strange, listening to him. Even stranger that it helps. He closes his eyes, exhaling everything out—the weight on his chest lightening up

Raph offers a comforting smile, “He can’t have gone that far anyway.” Leo's expression softens as he nods, feeling reassured. “Especially not with his hair.”

Raph’s grip slightly tightens as he gives Leo a half-hearted glare. “And ignored my suggestion,” he said, his tone mock-irritated. They stare at each other before snickering, with Leo playfully shoving Raph aside. Donnie pushes down his goggles, surrounding the treelines, when a flash of blonde catches his attention. Donnie calls out to them, pointing at a faraway bush. "Which might have been a silver lining."

CRACK! The tree falls under Donnie's weight, sending him tumbling down, face-planting right into it with a soft 'ow'. Donnie barely lifts his head, groaning, "or blonde in this case." Raph and Leo looked where he was pointing—Mikey's hair was tangled in the bush! They wait for Donnie to regroup with them before freeing the tangled hair and following it. He hadn’t gone far at all. Just past the thicket, by the edge of a pond. Lotuses were scattered on the pond like stars, lily pads in between them. Mikey was sitting cross-legged on the grass, sketching out the scene in his notebook. Piebald was nestled on top of his hair.

The three of them let out a collective breath, the tension finally lifting. The sound drew Mikey’s attention. He turned, beaming, and waved them over, patting the ground beside him.

Raph is about to scold Mikey for running off like that, but Leo nudges him. “Don't ruin it for him yet,” he whispered, then pulled him forward.

Donnie had already plopped down, leaning back on his hands. He peeks over Mikey's shoulder, studying how precise Mikey is with his lines. It almost reminded him of when he drew out the blueprints for his inventions. Leo reaches out towards Mikey's hair, gently picking out leaves and twigs wedged in there. "So, how are you feeling?"

Mikey glances at him, pausing for a second. "It feels..."

An orange insect zipped past, wings flashing in the sunlight. Mikey tracks it with wide eyes, spellbound, as it skims across the water without a doubt in the world. A dreamy sigh leaves Mikey's lips, whispering, "freeing." The group lets that sit for a moment, the sounds of the pond and rustling trees filling the space. Piebald takes the chance to glide over to her guardian's shoulder. Then Raph lets out a deep breath, "Sure you're not overwhelmed or anything?"

Mikey nodded his head, then pointed toward the strange creature skimming the pond."What's that?" Donnie perks up immediately. “Libellula saturata,” he says proudly.

Crickets.

Donnie sighs, annoyed now. “Flame skimmer. A kind of dragonfly.”

There are small murmurs of vague acknowledgment in the group. Mikey’s eyes follow it a little longer, the Flamer Skimmer resting on a lily pad. “It's really pretty.” Raph's eyebrows furrow as he feels something on his leg and looks down, a pink frog. He looks back towards Donnie, "Hey, Knight, what type of species is this?" He gently cups the frog, holding it out to the group. Donnie's expression sours as he sees the slimy creature, goosebumps crawling on his skin as it reminds him of Malicious Mickey. "It's..."

Donnie stiffend. That dirty orange sclera. Flaming pupils that seemed hallow, but too aware. Maroon blotches speckling its back like bruises. Something was off about it. "a monstrosity." he mutters without meaning to. Leo blinks at the venom in his brother's words. Sure, his brother not liking something isn't new, but this feels different. It felt personal.

Mikey gasps as leans closer, "Aw, don't say that. It's pretty cute if you give it a chance."

Leo crosses his arms, feeling uneasy as he stares at the frog. "I don't know about that, Mikey." Raph rolled his eyes at the twins’ reactions—until the frog looked at him.

Those filthy orange eyes.

Something cold slithered up his spine. He couldn’t move. Just like in his nightmares. Eyes looming down at him, huge and blazing, while he lay paralyzed on his back. Helpless. Watching. Waiting. Taking.

Splash! The frog jumps off Raph's hands, diving into the pond with a big ripple. Raph exhaled sharply, forcing the tension from his shoulders. But something still clung to him, as if eyes were following them. Raph quickly turned towards Piebald, a subtle worry in his eyes. He whispered into her ear, his voice low and urgent. She studied him for a beat, then nodded. She opened her wings and hopped off his shoulder, taking flight into the sky.

Mikey continues watching the frog when he notices its getting too close to the dragonfly. "Hey guys," Everyone looks up, "Is that frog—"

The frog's tongue strikes like thunder, wrapping the poor dragonfly in it. The dragonfly wings flashed, buzzing in a panic, skimming the water for a split second before it was dragged beneath the surface.

Mikey’s eyes linger on the ripples where the dragonfly vanished. Donnie clears his throat. “Ah, don’t feel too bummed about it,” he offers.

Mikey blinks, his frown deepening, but Donnie keeps going. “Dragonflies only live for, like, two weeks. Tops.”

Leo and Raph stare at him for a beat—then both smack the back of his head in sync. Raph shakes his head. “Not helping.”

Leo huffs. “And I’m the one who needs his mouth sewn shut?”

Donnie winces, rubbing his head. “What? Nature’s efficient, not kind.” A series of loud gurgles echoes from Mikey’s stomach. Everyone turns to look at him. He gives a sheepish smile, resting a hand on his gut. “My bad… kinda skipped lunch today.” Raph waves his hand dismissively, "Don't sweat it. Raph didn't have time for breakfast today." Mikey sighs, brushing the grass off his pants. “I think I get where the frog was coming from now.” Leo puts his hands on his hips and announces, "Don't worry, guys. I know just the place." Donnie leans his cheek into his palm, wary. “I don’t know, Prime. Señor Hueso seemed pretty adamant about—”

“Nothing!” Leo cuts in quickly.

He rubs his arm, suddenly avoiding eye contact. “He...was just off that day.”

Raph glanced between the twins, sensing something unspoken. Raph tensely suggests, “It probably wouldn’t hurt to wait.”

Mikey quickly turns to Raph, gasping. Right on cue, Mikey’s stomach groans in protest. Leo gives him a flat look, but he stands his ground.

He shakes his head. “First of all, Mikey’s stomach says otherwise. Second—” he cuts a glare toward Donnie, “someone is overthinking again. We’ll be fine, trust me.” Donnie goes to protest but is suddenly cut off. Mikey looked up at him, his hands clasped together and his big puppy-dog eyes shining with hope. "Please, Knight? It’s for my birthday!" Donnie paused for a moment, taken aback by the sincerity in his voice. Leo slides right next to Mikey, mimicking his wide-eyed expression. Leo didn't know what else to do if Donnie wasn't swayed by this.

With a reluctant sigh, Donnie straightened up. "Then again, when have we ever listened?"

Leo and Mikey cheer, spinning each other around in victory. Raph can't help but snort at the silly sight, some tension leaving his shoulders.

Leo wraps his arms around Mikey and Donnie's shoulders. Leo laughs, "That's the spirit!" Donnie’s eye twitches. He shoves Leo’s face away roughly. Leo stumbles backward—right into Raph, who catches him with a grunt.

Raph glances down at him, skeptical. “So...where are we going again?”

Leo grins up at him. “You’ll know it when you smell it.” Leo reaches for his daggers, but Raph swats them away. Leo winces, rubbing his knuckles and glaring. “Ow. Rude.”

Raph clears his throat, "How about we walk instead?"

"But, where's the fun in that?" Leo gasps, scandalized. Raph shrugs, avoiding eye contact. "So, Mikey can explore the forest more?" Donnie snickers, "There's no shame in admitting you're scared." "Yeah, you don't have to use Mikey—" Leo turns to him, but blinks. Mikey's gone. In his place, a trail of blond hair.

They follow it to find Mikey rolling gleefully in a pile of leaves a few feet ahead. Mikey can't understand why his father was so afraid. This world is too great to be dangerous.

“I love that idea, Raph!” he calls back.

Donnie smacked his forehead. Leo mutters, “How did he even get past us?”

Raph sighs in relief, walking over towards him. “Hey! Wait for us, little man!" Donnie follows behind Raph, "If this is going to work, you have to stick with us, Angelo." "Right, sorry." Mikey rubs the back of his neck.

Leo groans and strolls over, hauling Mikey up with a sigh. "Get the enthusiasm, but we can't chase after ya, Mikestar." "Yeah, something bad could happen if you don't," Raph mutters. “Anywizzle, since someone’s too scared to portal—” Leo throws a look at Raph, who lets out an embarrassed huff, “—this way we go!”

As they walk, Mikey begins bombarding them with questions. At first, the others hesitate, but eventually, they start to answer. If they’re stuck together, they might as well know each other.

The bushes whisper gently, their leaves rustling softly as the group brushes past them.

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