#and in that ep when the killed the shredder he was the only one with an aura around him

[angelmichelangelo]

can we just talk about how easily mikey is able to take on his brothers that are possessed and not holding back at all? he had some serious untapped potential in this show that was so wasted

[yellowhollyhock]

Thoughts on 1987 tello?

mostly emotions tbh (I love him very much) (thoughts and nonsense rambling under the cut)

He's so dramatic, he loves singing and dancing, if he puts on a trench coat he has to narrate everything in a noir voice,

He is the most likely out of the 1987 turtles to choose violence. He becomes the Dark Turtle and goes after Shredder. He's ready to leave the punk frogs in danger (I don't remember the situation) and when Leonardo pushes that they have to help even if the frogs still try to attack them, he gives the most "well okay you're the leader" shrug. Like 'I explained our strategic advantage to you plainly and it was clearly too advanced for you to understand so I guess I'll be nice and go along with what you say"

it's not uncommon for him to split off from the group because he'll think of something and have to go get the parts for it. He also just goes off alone sometimes, like as the Dark Turtle or when his car got stolen so he stole the car thief's car in order to chase them and was then himself being chased by the police because the whole reason they stole his car was because they stole something else first and the police recognized the car they were in previously. And he refuses to explain to his bros what's going on because he doesn't want them to know the turtle van got nabbed from him after he spent so long fixing it up. Which situation leads to one of my favorite Raph and Don moments (I have a lot of those aksjfjsj)

Donatello, hanging up the phone: Great, now they guys think I'm a crook. Won't they feel bad when they find out I'm only a liar!

Later, when they find out

Michelangelo: I knew Donatello wasn't a crook!

Raphael, feeling the least bad he's ever felt in his life: No, only a liar

I love how much he wants his bros attention, he's so middle child y'all.

Another favorite moment, in the episode where Splinter becomes human for a day, at the start of it when they're all noticing he's sad (im paraphrasing the heck out of this scene)

Raphael, Leonardo, and Michelangelo: Ohh Master Splinter didn't eat his sushi ☹️ Sushi is his favorite ☹️☹️

Donatello: Well of course he doesn't want sushi, who would want to eat raw fish?

Raphael, Leonardo, and Michelangelo: Our Sensei who loves sushi is not eating sushi... this is such a travesty we must find out what made him sad

Donatello: I hate raw fish so very deeply much

He's so stupid I love him so much. And! He is egotistic and can be quick to anger and does sometimes ignore/not notice other people's feelings, but. He is also truly deeply and believably a sweetheart! He would do anything for his bros and he mostly shows his love through actions.

Like when they all wanted Leonardo to lighten up some, and he had a machine that would supposedly (and did in fact) do just that, but he insisted it was not safe and they were not to use it on him (they did anyway but that's not the point akdjsja). Or the fact that he made the health-o-meter. Or when Michelangelo is crying over the stove and he hugs him so gently and pats him on the back "I know" fjksjfj stop it 😭. Whenever the 87 turtles hug I die from the cuteness and come back to life from the cuteness. you know the saying, cuteness killed the cat but cuteness brought it back, or something like that

Or in Donatello's Duplicate where it's shown that besides his inventions he's doing a lot of little household repairs for them, which gets him frustrated when it piles up too much and is why he makes a clone, who turns out to be evil and by the end of the ep he's like 'I was so silly why wouldn't I be happy? I love fixing things and I love helping my family and I'm so lucky I get to do both!' And I definitely have some feelings about them ending the episode this way (the big donatello crossover involving a karaoke night is to address this), but it is really sweet regardless, he really loves them so much

Okay this is half-formed and mayhaps confusing but you gave me an opportunity so here's a thought that's been in the back of my mind. I like thinking about the ways later cartoons drew from 87, especially balancing it with Mirage. Because Mirage Don is the pacifist. He hates guns. In the mirage comic the 03 HATE episode was based on, it ends with a little speech from Donatello about how he feels bad for killing the terrorists, even though they saved more lives by doing it. When Raph wants to go back to NYC to face the Shredder but Leo insists they (he) needs more time at the farmhouse, Don backs Leo up saying "we aren't the keepers of society, Raph. We never were."

And that's very different from 87 Donatello. But at the same time you can see their similarities when a situation comes up in mirage and Raph (and sometimes Leo) go straight to "We gotta help!" and Donatello counters with "Do we? Can we? What if we make things worse" 87 Donatello has that same pragmatism, even if he feels deeply about a situation he's gonna look at it and say What can I do, not necessarily What should I do. (this works in the positive and the negative akdhsha)

... Anyway that wasn't the thought I was thinking of. The thought I was gonna and will now share is like this: you know that 2012 episode where they go into Mikey's psyche and meet a bunch of different Mikeys? What if 87 Donatello's psyche and the different hims are the other Dons

Because out of all of them I feel like he encompasses something from each of them

So it's like

87 Donatello: Welcome to my Mind. You'll meet all the sides of my compelling and complex personality here. This is my nurturing side

03 Donny: Hey guys! Why do you have your initials on your belt buckles lol

87 bros:

Donatello: He's usually much nicer than that. This is my theatrical side

Rise Donnie, has not noticed guests, strumming imagine guitar: past corridor B, down the stairs past the ibis tapestry--

Donatello: This is my sarcastic side. He also usually covers hormonal stuff

12 Don, tongue stuck out in concentration while he draws himself with big muscles:

Donatello: And this is the part of me that likes to annoy Raphael.

Bayverse D, slurping from a juicebox: :)

Raphael: Well that's all fine, but can you show us the Donatello in charge of all that science genius stuff so he can show us a way out of here?

All Donatellos gathered around like a fairy circle: 👁️ 👁️

87 bros:

Donatello: Oh, they all do science. It wouldn't be fair to the other guys to give it to just one.

Raphael: Of course, that makes sense (hates his life rn)

ALSO guys guys I should probably wait to say this since I don't even have a draft yet akdjshaj. But if you've read this far I think you'll appreciate this: Donatello is going to sing My Way at karaoke night 💜

[possumsarenice]

Mutant Mashup HCs

Mutant Mashup AU by me and @sillyandquest

Simoni convinces Casey Jr. to play Minecraft. Home boy was so confused about everything at first. But now they do it on weekends regularly. Jr. has made statues for the future turtles in all the worlds he play in

All of the turtles love Jupiter Jim, even if Sanzio tries to deny it. Although only DaVinci and Blue are huge fans of Space Heroes. It’s their thing

Yoshi trained all the turtles, including the Rise kids. Lou (due to his mental state and Yoshi considering him a disgrace) wasn’t too involved with the training, but showed them all his movies so they all have picked up some things from those movies

Simoni has an electric based nippō

Purple and Sanzio are secretly running a bunch of cons in the hidden city

May (2012 April) managed to tame a kraang dog and the beginning of the apocalypse, so Casey Jr. grew up with a kraang dog. When he gets sent back, May manages to tame it again and it stays alive after the Rise kraang leave. So Casey Jr. gets his pet back :D

I imagine there’s plots that didn’t exist in either Rise or 2012 solely because characters now exist in the same world. (Example: The 2012 Purple Dragons somehow get into Big Mama’s debt, Meatsweats attacks Mr. Murakami because “nO ONe’s AlLOwEd To MAkE bETTeR FOod tHEn ME *crying baby auto tune*”, or Foot Recruit and Miwa/2012 Karai being girlbosses together, etc)

Of course we have Medic Blue, but I haven’t seen too much on the general fanon on who’s the medic in 2012. So my personal HC is that it’s Raph. Source: He literally gives Donnie a tourniquet in that one ep. Anyways Blue and Sanzio are ✨the medic duo✨ Yoshi is both the hardest on Blue because he’s afraid of him turning out like Lou, and joke with him the most because they’re both trolls and play around like that. Sanzio will absolutely kill bitch if they touch Purple’s shell without permission. The fact that’s so vulnerable compared to everyone else’s freaks him out a bit. Why is it so easy to break???

On a related note: Sanzio physically fights Purple the lest due to his Soft-Shell Privileges. Does Not stop him from verbal attacks at all, which they do the most out of everyone

Lou holds resentment to Yoshi for seemingly being unaffected by their mother leaving them. He also lost contact with Shredder before he gots too bad and is still a little in shock about his turn.

Baron Draxum created the ooze that mutated Yoshi and the 2012 turtles, so they all get the Draxum Clutch™️ as well.

Hueso went to Mr. Murakami‘s restaurant as per the turtles request, and now he’s a regular. Mr. Murakami knows he’s a skeleton but just casually accepts he’s serving to a bunch of creatures. As long as they behave he doesn’t mind

Casey Jr. was very close to his uncle Casey (2012) but doesn’t really know how to approach him in the present. He’s so different. At least the kraang dog is more or less the same.

Yoshi forbade all the turtles from going outside, but they all snuck out around the time Orange was 3-4ish. Lou know but has been letting them do it in a “haha don’t tell your dad/uncle or we’re all in trouble” move

[mariusroyale]

I found my people.... I found Raph obsessed sweeties 🥺 I love you.

I want to hear everything you have to say about him, thank you for this blog. It's full of food. Imma start eating

AAAAAAAAAAAAA

GO AHEAD

FEAST

IM A RAPH STAN TO THE VERY END *salute*

i have so many things to say about raph ESPECIALLY after season two + movie

garbled, nonsensical rant ahead:

because I’ve seen SO many posts about how the change in leader would have caused a rift between him and his brothers (worsening it, really, considering how he treats them enables them to behave poorly in the show)

pizza puffs is RIGHT THERE

like all through out, his bros are always reassuring, always saying ‘raph will take care of it’, just always relying on raph

AND RAPH LITERALLY BEATS HIMSELF UP OVER IT

HE LITERALLY HITS HIMSELF IN HIS CONFLICT (yeah sure haha funnie) BUT STILL!!

one could imagine the sudden change strains his relationship with his bros because despite how it, in THEORY, would have lessened the weight—

HE STILL HAS TO SHOULDER IT!!!!!

HE STILL HAS TO SCOLD LEO AND BICKER WITH HIM BECAUSE HE KNOWS THE CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLIGENCE AND ARROGANCE AND IT DOESNT GET THRU LEO'S SKULL UNTIL HIS BROTHERS AND THE WORLD ARE FUCKING DYING

BC LEO’S SELF ASSURED THAT IT WOULD WORK OUT LIKE IT ALWAYS DID EVEN IF THEY DIDNT RUMINATE ON THEIR ISSUES

(i will literally fall to my knees hearing Omar's voice in the movie in how well he portrayed Raph's desperation when he realised they needed to retreat, like he sounds so fucking distraught-- LITERALLY GO WATCH IT RN, THE WAY HE SHOUTS 'im not gonna argue with you!' is so fucking sad bc he doesn't!!! THERE'S SHIT HAPPENING AND I LITERALLY DO NOT WANT TO FIGHT WITH YOU RN--)

WHICH NOT ONLY WORSENS THAT RIFT

BUT THICKENS WHATEVER GLASS BETWEEN HIM AND THEIR YOUNGER SIBLINGS!! he and mikey used to be so close!! and it was to be explored that they distanced BECAUSE of raph’s smothering!! IM FOREVER MAD WE DIDNT GET THAT EP so you can imagine how Leo n Raph constantly bickering would have strained their relationships worse!!!

I can imagine how trying to recover it would be SO difficult, especially with Leo because seriously, causing the end of the world because of your own pride isn't some shit you can put under the rug, I can literally feel the cogs in my brain about how raph would be ambivalent on saying how he feels because it cost everyone so much

and because he picks his silence I can imagine Leo being all like 'be mad at me! be upset! yell at me or something, because you haven't said anything to me at all!' or some shit urhghghghr

and raph wouldn't want to upset him, doesn't want to fight, or yell, or make a repeat of the last few years because

hes fucking tired

he doesn't want to put more on Leo after almost losing him

also!! bad future:

raph’s the biggest!! and he’s so used to carrying that load that i can imagine it fucking KILLS him in the bad future!! ALL THAT- TO BE THEIR PROTECTER, ENDING UP DYING FIRST

BECAUSE OF COURSE HE WOULD

BECAUSE HE LOVES THEM SO MUCH AND IT HURTS HIM

when he shields Donnie from shredder in BN:NY, UGRHDHDH

when he shields both Mikey and Donnie when the Krang pulled that anti mystic bs!! he didn’t even think about what it would do- he just wanted to PROTECT

AND OFC RAPH SHIELDING LEO FROM GETTING FUCKING STABBED

RAPH. DIDNT. KNOW. WHERE. IT. WOULD. LAND.

a few inches lower and he would have fucking DIED!!!

he was LITERALLY doing the thing he knew best and it cost him his own autonomy and COULD HAVE LITERALLY FUCKING KILLED HIM—

BUT GOD FORBID HIS BROTHERS GET LETHALLY HURT, HE’LL TAKE IT HIMSELF BECAUSE HES JUST LIKE THAT

and that part of his character gets me so

BECAUSE he doesn’t HAVE to be such a caring overbearing worrywart like that!!!

all that parentification and the separation it left- he could have really just distanced himself entirely or just become jaded and bitter about how he didn’t get his own big brother treatment

BUT HE LOVES ANYWAY

HE'S STILL JUST A BIG GOOF

AND ITS SO 😭😭

HE CAN GET MAD AND UPSET AND STRESSED OUT AS MANY TIMES AS LONG AS IT MEANS HIS FAMILY IS SAFE AND CARED FOR

AND ITS LIKE *sobs*

i wanna know what a raph ep would be like if he just.. got a break

no really, i was so pumped to have a solo raph ep and then MY BOY GETS THROWN IN PRISON FOR LOOKING LIKE A CRIMINAL?!????

i would have gotten so violent, ong- he deserved a better solo ep >:((

and that ep after insane in the mama train, where he goes to his happy place

HES A SHOOTING STAR LIKE D’AWWJDHSJ

I WANNA SEE THIS BIG BEHEMOTH OF A TURTLE GET A BREAK FOR A LONG TIME AND HE JUST GETS TO CHILL

that being said, i am writing a fic on ao3 called ‘Red Angel Perpetuating Harm’ and i plan on uploading it once i fully manage to encapsulate raph’s trauma and what he deserves to treat it bc this fandom i stg….

guys

i get it, Leo’s there, yeah sure

RAPH IS RIGHT HERE. Y’ALL KEEP MAKIN UP SCENARIOS WHERE ITS JUST MADE UP TORTURE FOR LEO

WHEN RAPH IS RIGHT. THERE.

PERFECT. ATTENTIVE. LOVING. HIMBO.

raph’s trauma does not get addressed enough and i for one am DONEEEEE

HE GOT MUTATED. THERE WAS A SCRAPPED ENDING WHERE HE STRAIGHT UP LOST HIS EYE

HE LITERALLY ALMOST KILLED HIS BROS

RAPH ‘RED ANGEL OF PREVENTING HARM’ HAMATO ALMOST KILLED EM

AND IF YOU DONT WANT PHYSICAL ANGST-- HE'S GOT A HELLUVA LOT OF EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE TOO!!!!! HE'S RIGHT THERE!!!!!

and my fuckass fyp on tiktok is like ‘you want Leo edits?’ NO!!

whenever i get vids of raph, focusing on his loss or just cute edits im always like

bECAUSE HE DESERVES MORE ATTENTION!!!! HE'S SUCH A GOOD CHARACTER AND I ADORE HIM!!!

the fic I have rn + the outlines I've made have so far focuses on:

what happened after he got IMPALED (I really liked writing this one)

deeper into interrogation (im contemplating whether or not to write his savage self considering he is alone but idk how to implement it bc the rise Krang are insanely strong, goddamn)

and making his interactions with his bros as a Krang zombie worse

+ recovering his bonds with each brother (trying to figure out how to put all my feelings in their dynamics with raph together)

and splinter + April too, I want him to be able to vent without feeling GUILTY or BAD abt himself!!

the Leo parts of the fic I feel like u can literally smell the way I feel abt him bc JKSBHLJFBHLGBLHJFLBHJ

(no seriously, idc why fics keeps saying 'its not his fault!!' bc YES TF IT WAS.)

hoping to dive deeper into the aforementioned rift too, because god this fam needs some help but RAPH CENTRIC FIC MEANS HE GETS TO BE THE ONE TO CRY AND BE ANGRY AND UPSET TOO BECAUSE GODDAMMIT HE DESERVES TO

someone pls write other things I haven't addressed bc I wanna write em in the fic--

tldr; he best. the best big boy

here's a tiktok

[alaffy]

Only Murders in the Building, Ep.3x06 – Ghost Light  (Spoilers)

This episode had less to do with advancing the mystery, than it did getting the characters where they needed to be for the final four episodes.  Still, there were a couple of revelations and a few important things to note. 

The episode begins the day after the previous episode.  Howards comes to Mabel’s apartment and confesses to killing Ben.  However, when Charles and Oliver arrive, we find out that Howard believes he’s responsible for Ben’s death as he didn’t sweep the ghost of a dead actor away.  He says it was because the broom was in K.T.’s office and the office had been locked.  The reason why Howard is telling them now is because Howard saw the ghost in the theater that morning. 

Charles and Oliver learn that Tobert spent the night at Mabel’s and knows of the murder board.  They aren’t happy with him investigating with Mabel.  Well, Charles is upset because Joy has left him and he’s insecure about another relationship ending.  Oliver is upset because he’s afraid that Loretta might have killed Ben (he saw her handwriting and there’s a chance it matches the writing on the mirror).  The three of them decide to go with Howard to the theater.

At the theater, Charles is almost hit twice by falling sandbags; making it look like the ghost is real (as that is how the actor who became the ghost died).  They go to K.T.’s office, which makes her jump.  K.T. mentions how this screwed up her highlights on a script page.  And then we get very close shot of K.T.’s page highlighted in green and orange being shredded by a paper shredder.

They tell K.T. about the sandbags.  She and Howard go to check the stage.  The rest of their story is about how to deal with the ghost, so I won’t go much further with them.  However, K.T. mentions that if her office was locked the night of Ben’s murder, she wasn’t the one who did it.  So, given this information and the detailed shot of the script going into the shredder, something clearly happened in K.T.’s office that night.

Meanwhile, Mabel notices a sign in sheet on K.T.’s wall.  Mabel says they can use that to compare the handwriting on the mirror.  Oliver quickly grabs the sheet and, as Mabel and Charles discuss Charles clearly having an issue processing his breakup, Oliver sneaks away.  Mabel and Charles get into a bit a fight and go their separate ways.  Charles will soon find himself locked in a closet, where he will spiral about his insecurities about people leaving him.  It's a couple of funny moments, but not much more than that. Skip.

Mabel, meanwhile, discovers that Tobert has come to the theater.  It turns out he’s following Johnathan.  Not surprisingly, we find out quickly that the reason why Johnathan was talking to Ben’s “doctor,” was to get the same kind of “medicine” that Ben was using to perform.  It turns out that Johnathan has high anxiety because he’s now the lead man and he hasn’t said anything because, well, he’s kind of doing this for Howard.  It also means that the theory that he killed Ben to get the lead doesn’t make sense. 

Oliver, meanwhile, is trying to see if the handwriting on the mirror does match Loretta’s.  It’s a bit inconclusive.  Oliver hears a noise and, when he goes to investigate, finds a hidden area.  There, he finds that an old friend of his happens to be living in this space.  Furthermore, it sounds like this director had been working at the theater until he was fired by K.T.  (if I understood that correctly).  Oliver admits to his friend that he had fallen in love with Loretta and was concerned that she may have killed Ben.  Oliver’s friend mentions that Loretta has a temper.  Oliver asked what he means and Oliver’s friend tells him about the fight that Loretta and Ben had.  The friend says that Ben and Loretta were rehearsing, and Loretta got upset when Ben took a joke too far.  Apparently, that’s when she called Ben a “fucking pig.”  He then tells Oliver how Charles hit Ben.  Now, it should be pointed out that this friend is a bit of an unreliable witness as he couldn’t hear everything in the conversation and because he’s a bit…mentally unwell.

Afterwards, Oliver’s friend gives Oliver some advice that Oliver had given him years ago about how indecision is the worst thing and…look, Oliver, considering where your friend is now maybe we don’t listen to his advice.  However, Oliver does and this leads to him wiping the lipstick message off the mirror.  It’s at this moment, Charles and Mabel come into the dressing room.

And, I’m sorry, but I don’t really like Oliver at the moment.  I get he doesn’t want to loose Loretta, but he says some really horrible things to Mabel and Charles.  Anyway, this leads to a big fight between the three.  Oliver tells Mabel about how Charles didn’t tell her that he had hit Ben.  Charles tells Oliver that was because he wanted to protect Oliver, but after the way Oliver is acting he’s going to quit the musical.  Mabel is upset with Oliver because he’s being an ass and at Charles as he hid information.  And she also has a valid point, a man is dead.  While Charles and Oliver both have personal issues going on that do need to be recognized and dealt with, it shouldn’t be overshadowing the fact that a man was murdered.  Mabel also lets them know the Cinda had told her that Mabel needed to find another team who wasn’t so busy with other projects. 

So, at the end of the episode, the three have separated and Mabel is now working with Tolbert; which, and I may be paranoid here, why wouldn’t I be shocked if Tolbert and Cinda know each other.

As for Ben’s murder, I still don’t think it’s Loretta.  Maybe.  But there’s something we’re missing and I think Charles has the answer.  Going back to the fight between Loretta and Ben, rather going back to Charles’ reaction to that fight…something has happened before this.  It doesn’t make sense that Charles, if this had been the first time he’d seen them fight, would have just hit Ben.  Like Charles doesn’t ask what’s going on, he just tells Ben to get away from her. And the fact that he warns Ben later to stay away from Loretta…there is something else Charles has seen. 

But then we also have a couple of other interesting questions that come from this episode.  One, obviously, what was going on in K.T.’s office.  The other comes from what Johnathan said about Ben’s drug use.  Mabel mentions that, if Ben took those drugs before the performance, there should have been traces of meth in the toxicology report, from when Ben was killed the first time, but there wasn’t.  Is it possible that the poison was in the drugs?  I have a feeling the answer will be no as I feel like the drugs are another red herring. Like I really wouldn't be surprised if we find out that doctor had been telling them he's been giving them these drugs, when it all is a placebo.

And I still am convinced Ben was professing his love to cookies.    

[davids-cartoon-corkboard]

Here’s the final part of the “Raph is a system” theory compilation post! It’s the last of what I can scrape up from canon; while I still have ideas on how it might loop back into character interactions and plot and so on, they’re much more speculative in nature. (Part 1 is here) (Part 2 is here) (You’re reading Part 3)

---

"Red” is the alter with the least screen time, so it took a while for me to connect the dots on when and why he formed.

His shadowed face, the dramatic background music when he speaks, and his seriousness are reminiscent of the “brooding on rooftops in the rain while gloomily staring off into the distance” thing that Raphs throughout the franchise will do sometimes. That’s easy to poke fun at on a superficial level because most of us look back on our edgy phases with self-deprecation, but it’s a lot less funny in the context of the life he lives. Being a normal human teenager in normal human society is a fucking nightmare; being a mutant teenager who has no idea what to expect in terms of development or lifespan, only five people he can safely interact with ever, and a very limited future hiding from everyone else for as long as he lives has got to be just awful.

RR’s few lines in “Pizza Puffs” tell us a lot. “It’s the only way they’ll learn” and “this is for their own good” suggest that he formed when the turtles started exploring more of the sewers and going aboveground, and Being The Leader became more of a responsibility. A thousand new ways for them to get in trouble meant a thousand new ways Raph would have to bail them out, and that got old fast- especially since they didn’t have April’s knowledge to help them in the beginning. I doubt they met her the very first time they left the sewers. The wiki says April knew the boys for five years as of “Mystic Mayhem”, so they would have been nearly eight at the time, perhaps the mental equivalent of a ten- or eleven-year-old human.

A while back I sifted through all the eps with Raph in them in the vague hopes that “Pizza Puffs” wasn’t the only episode featuring RR... and lo and behold, I found something! The shadowed face and dramatic background music are also present in “Minotaur Maze”!

“I can’t do it. I got no mystic mojo. I’m useless.”

“Hey, that’s not true, brother. You just gotta believe in yourself, and know this: If I die in this maze, I will haunt you for the rest of your life.”

(I know that’s only two data points, but y’all canonically cannot scoff at me.) RR shows up when HR is no longer able to tolerate the bullshit at hand. “I’m not going to baby you Leo, get your shit together before your ego kills us all” was a reasonable response to nearly being shish-kebab’d.

“Pizza Puffs”, on the other hand... LDM pulled through in the end, but that RR got HR to stay behind added an unnecessary level of risk. Getting his brothers to learn a lesson should have waited until after the giant mutant cannibal had been dealt with and they were no longer poisoned.

This hands-off “figure it out on your own” approach probably came from Splinter. I swear to Pizza Supreme In The Sky I’m not trying to shit-talk him, but his lack of involvement with his sons was a major flaw. Before all that character development he was terrible at things like “emotional support” and “life lessons”, leaving Raph without the blueprints to deal with a lot of problems. HR would respond by rushing in and figuring things out as he went, but sometimes RR would have to say “No, we’re maxed out and can’t deal with this, we’ve gotta step back”. As we’ve seen in other iterations, when Raph is maxed out and doesn’t step back...

...he goes too far. Plenty of folks have commented on how rarely the Rise turtles smack each other around compared to other versions; it’s telling that RR spoke up just a moment after HR smacked Mikey in “Pizza Puffs”.

Raph is much bigger and stronger than his brothers this time around, meaning such an outburst would have a much higher risk of Genuine Grievous Injury. And while his size and strength also mean a measure of gentleness has been baked into him since day one, there would still be times HR would feel himself boiling over and RR would head off somewhere quiet for fear of the above situation; which was potentially alluded to in “Hot Soup: The Game”.

“You went out on your own when you were his age.”

The context of “Man vs. Sewer” suggests Raph isn’t going to go off on his own without very good reason- such as cooling down before he does something he regrets. That this detail shows up in Casey’s debut episode suggests it is how they will properly meet and bond, since befriending Casey and doing vigilante shit with him is what usually gives Raph a way to blow off steam while having someone nearby to keep him in check. But that probably won’t happen until partway through season 3, since I doubt we can cram the rest of Casey’s redemption arc into the movie alongside the invasion and time travel trauma shenanigans and leader drama. So in the meantime RR will continue to brood on rooftops in bad weather and listen to Ephemerality songs and monologue to himself because he knows nobody’s going to hear him over the incessant background noise that makes up the cities above and below.

I was a bit stumped about how that meeting would take place- the events of the finale (and possibly also the movie) would no doubt have both the human and yokai populations on high alert, making it dangerous for RR to slip away for some peace and quiet. But the events of the finale also gave us some insight on Raph’s powers; he has a way to leave without actually leaving!

Hardlight Clone Jutsu, baby!

So whenever HR finds himself in a particularly sour mood, a wisp of power winds its way up through the open-air portion of the lair and forms into a clone aboveground. HR doesn’t have to leave for a while to cool down before coming back and dealing with the situation calmly, because RR is already on a rooftop somewhere dissipating those bad feelings by listening to the rain and/or yeeting trash cans.

But mutants can’t freely walk the streets of New York, and the Hidden City Police probably still have it out for Raph. And someone, hero or villain, will eventually realize that Raph has a gloomy stray clone running around and ask questions that can’t be answered without cracking open the can of worms that is This Whole Situation. RR needs to get creative. That we’ve seen clones have both full color and the basic red/white palette suggests their color could be altered in other ways; and that the holo-form grew extra arms in the lair fight vs. the Shredder suggests their shape could also be changed further.

So what will he choose to look like, if not his body?

Obviously he’ll use a red and black color palette because it slaps, leaning more towards black since I compared him to Batman back in Part 1. A low-detail design makes it hard to identify him, giving onlookers the impression that they just couldn't see him well in the dark. Mentally filing down his spikes and decreasing the curve of his shell are easy enough, but it takes him a while to figure out five fingers instead of three, and there’s not much he can do about his voice other than lowering the pitch so he just opts to not talk much within earshot of others. A cape further disguises his silhouette and again, it slaps. The impression of a mask means he doesn’t need a face and it lets peoples’ assumptions work for him. Humans are more likely to think he’s human than a Very Human-Shaped Mutant, and yokai come in so many shapes as is that he could be anything from a witch to a dehydrated googlyschmootz.

(You know how it is with franchises. Old patterns repeating in new ways.)

New York City never sleeps, and I doubt the Hidden City does either. He’ll run into Casey eventually, but in the interim he stumbles across and intervenes in some attempted purse-snatchings and kidnappings and the like. Most of the would-be victims use his arrival as their chance to escape, but one of them is too frozen with fear to move until their attackers are chased off into the dark. He escorts them home, and it’s only once they’re at their doorstep that they work up the courage to ask him who he is.

It’s... a difficult question, in more ways than one. “Raph” is out of the question. “Red” isn’t quite right, and neither is “Angel”- they’re a tad too identifying still, and the R.A.P.H. thing was HR’s idea anyway. So he shrugs, and melts away into the shadows.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m Nobody.”

[criminalmutantsins]

My Version of the Hamato Family

Hi everyone! Thank you for reading and liking part one. It made my day!

So, this is where I shine in writing. I love creating characters and their backstory; it’s so fun. I think it is more important to focus on characters than the plot since a character can create the storyline- well at least for me.

I’m excited to share! Hope you enjoy!

Comment your thoughts! It would be cool to read them! 😁

……………………..

 Leonardo:

We’re starting with the usual leader-in-blue!

Although I adore Leo, his “perfect” personality can get a little boring. His versions usually have flaws, though they are the kind that makes you sympathize with him rather than feeling indifferent like with Raph’s anger issues.

Season 1 Leo would be a toned-down Rise Leo. He can be cocky when he succeeds over his brothers and would jokingly comment how he is Splinter’s favorite. However, it doesn’t come without hard work. Leo trains the most out of his brothers and spends most of his time studying fighting techniques. He is not naturally talented in ninjitsu like the past incarnations. Also, Leo’s motivations for training very hard and wanting to be leader is more for himself than anything.

Compared to his brothers, Leo was relatively average. Donnie was extremely smart, Mikey had his kind and joyful soul, and Raph was naturally a great fighter. Leo felt left out and decided that training to be a hero would be his way of standing out. He also believed that being special like his brothers was the only way to get Splinter’s attention; and it kind of worked. With all the progress Leo made, Splinter praised him, and they had a way to connect.

Around the beginning of S1(maybe ep. 5), Leo became the leader though how was different. Instead of Splinter deciding, the brothers did; the explanation was the turtles were a team and should make a consensus as one. This news made Leo ecstatic; he was finally living his dreams. Even so, he didn’t realize the baggage and responsibility a leader had to shoulder. Over the course of the story Leo grows as a great leader and fighter.

The Karai/Leo subplot will follow the 2003 version. He is convinced that Karai is a good person and tries to have her switch sides. There will be romantic feelings but its not the main motivation for both of their actions. I can’t say too much since this plot revolves around Karai more.

   Donatello:

Donnie is a blend of 2003/12 versions. He is intelligent with an extremely high IQ and was a gifted child. However, his intelligence came with a cost; making connections with his brothers and father was really tough for him because of their different interests. This left him withdrawing from everyone and focusing on his inventions. His social skills evolve once the turtles visit the city and meet April. The increasing danger of the Kraang further builds his relationships since communication is important in teamwork, and Donnie’s talent in inventing grew more in the spotlight.

Because of her fascination with Donnie’s smarts and inventions, April and Donnie become good friends as the story continues. Donnie also gets close with April’s best friend, Irma since they are science lovers. At first, Casey irritates him as they have clearly different personality; Casey’s impulsive and extroverted attitude conflicting with Donnie’s plan-based mindset.

Donnie’s love for his family is showcased after witnessing a terrifying, apocalyptic future where his family suffers. Paranoia sets in. His work to calculate the cause of this terrible, and its solution leads Donnie to rarely take care of his needs. He has to learn to trust in others instead of doing things alone.

 Raphael:

Unlike Leo, Raph is instantly gifted in fighting. He has more physical strength than his brothers and would constantly beat them in practice. Since childhood, Raph was Splinter’s “favorite” in the dojo and that definitely got into the red-banded turtle’s head. He would brag to his brothers and jokingly poke fun at their techniques. It wouldn’t affect anyone. Except for Leo.

Raphael’s ego started taking hits once Leo caught up to him and beating him in practice once in a while. It turned into anger after noticing Master Splinter praising Leo more. The tension soured their brotherhood. Unlike most versions, Raph’s anger is fueled by insecurity. He believes that fighting is the only thing he is good at and will get territorial if his spotlight is threatened.

Throughout the story, he learns to move on from his demons and realize his worth.

Family is important to Raph. He can be hard on his brothers yet will do anything to keep them safe, especially Mikey- his positivity must be protected. Casey and Raph become best friends for their similarities and love for fighting- they are impulsive bros.

 Michelangelo:

Mikey’s role is to be the positive and glue of the team. He loves to make people happy and would always do something goofy or kind to do that. His family have nothing bad to say about their youngest member and are very protective of him. The youngest brother doesn’t take ninjitsu as seriously as skateboarding, dancing, or just general fun. Though, he will be serious when the situation calls for it, such as the fate of his family and the world.

Although being an open ear to anyone, Mikey is not open to expressing his negative emotions due to his fear of damaging the family dynamic. It is noticeable when he is upset because he jokes more often and not focus. A lesson he must learn is to accept the good and the bad. Mikey can be reckless, mostly when his brothers rarely let him participate in missions. He wants to prove to his family that he is strong enough to protect himself and others. Reading people is his best skill and takes great pride in it, usually taking on the role of a therapist.

 Splinter/Hamato Yoshi:

I really wanted to take Splinter’s role in the Shredder’s descent to evil in the grayer area. He is usually the victim/innocent party of the story, which can get boring after a while.

Hamato Yoshi was born as the heir to Hamato Clan and childhood best friend of Oroku Saki. The Hamato and Foot clan were allies for centuries and would usually fight by each other’s side. Matters changed when the Foot’s beliefs grew more sinister. This left the Hamato Clan to eradicate their former ally. Splinter saved Saki before he could be killed, though, it came with consequences. Oroku Saki vowed to exact revenge for his fallen home. Growing up, Splinter became one of the strongest martial artists in Japan and married a woman named Tang Shen, later becoming a father to a girl. His world ended once he saw his clan destroyed and his family killed by the renewed Foot Clan.

Yoshi decided to move to New York and forget his old life. Years later, the martial artist noticed strange people caging defenseless animals. He would fight them long enough to protect four humanoid turtles, deciding to keep them after a moment of compassion. Splinter would continuously fight the strange men until a strange liquid turned him into a rat. This turning point banished Splinter and the turtles to the sewers for protection.

Splinter equally loves his sons. He would always make sure to give them equal amounts of love to avoid lasting issues. Though, he has made some mistakes. Emotions were rarely discussed because of Splinter’s unintentionally withdrawn attitude. The rat master wouldn’t instantly notice problems between his sons, and usually didn’t know how to resolve them. No matter what, Splinter is proud of his children and would do anything to keep them safe; sometimes not realizing that it could hurt them.

Hamato Yoshi’s guilt and trauma over the terrible moments in his life would be the main focus of his development.

[moonstone27ls]

Only one critique I’ve got for Rise of the TMNT writing

I’m a bit afraid to write it becauseeeeeee I know fandom. They turn on ya XD if you have an opinion that isn’t in a some part of majority. Thats why there are ship wars(or extreme ones8B). So just watched the last two eps and the last one with battle nexus was fairly well written and good action scenes. My only critique I’m getting TIRED of Big Mama. Well not so much Big Mama, its more of the constant apparent “thing” with her and Splinter/Lou Jitsu/Hamato Yoshi(so many aliases 8B). Past wise I don’t hate it, I saw her flirt with that bell hop and she fell for that “fusion” Spanish guy? soo I’m “yeah I can believe it”.

Whats getting old is that this writing is apparently making us think that they’re “true love” or “still love each other”. I’ll be blunt NOTHING in this entire show has ever given me that indication that Big Mama really does love anything other than money. Calling Splinter her old petnames doesn’t really prove to me, that there’s still a spark. She calls everyone pet names even that Bell hop or whatever they had an ep where she apparently fell in love with him over dancing? Sooo its not selling me on that.

Now I know people will shrug it off and say “oh but they’re in love”. I’m like “WHERE?” And yes this show tends to have the bad guys reform? I admit Baron Draxumm’s character evolution has been surprising and they’re doing a good job on that. I admit even when he was “bad” they gave him a reason for disliking humanity/it was his twisted way of trying to save his kind. Soo his change and reform did eventually show and I accepted it.

Big Mama... she’s literally never done ANYTHING for anyone but herself. There is no explanation why she likes money so much(gonna assume we’ll get a sob story soon). Other than money, cheating/being a bitch(i’m not complaining as a villain she is awesome. Love interest for Splinter... getting sick of her already), and dancing thats it. Even when she imprisoned her Lou for money purposes, there’s no indication she missed him. She missed the money but all she’s done is used him. She’s constantly used/abused the TMNT, those are splinters sons. She knows their his sons. So in that Battle Nexus she made no qualms willing to kill them. And she made it clear she’d use the people of NYC as expendable victims to get killed.

So I’m so annoyed that Splinter would want to believe this is a “lover” for him. Can I see he’d save her even after all that yes because of that stupid “be a better person/hero” trope. But Big Mama’s never done anything for me to believe she’s “good”. 

I will probably delete this later cause I hate being bashed by fans. Point is I love Big Mama as a villian, her design is awesome and she’s a bitch XD. She’s a bitch we can’t trust. But as a love interest wish the writers would drop it. If this were another show we’d be kinda pointing out its a bit... unhealthy. She’s abusive at most of Splinter’s trust.  So its getting tiresomeeeee.

If this is their endgame I reallyyyy don’t want it. I’d rather have them bring back Tang Shen (yes she’s been used but she’s been given nothing but a credit cameo in an old ep. And I’m wishing they’d bring her back. Make her Splinter’s old ex or a what could have been. She could have been an undcover whatever going to him as an actress and be “Hamato Yoshi you need to quit being selfish and try to protect the world from Shredder”, blah blah you get the idea 8B).

I would take Tang Shen or even Baron Draxumm, at least Draxumm is learning to be a parent. He’s learned to love the TMNT as his family. I’d find that Barry(april’s nickname for him) with Splinter a lot more believable than “Big Mama”.

[megamanxfanfics]

S.V - Ep. 8: Conflicts of Interest

------------------------------------------------------

INT. PLANETARIUM – Gateway - DAY

------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 1:00 PM – Egyptian Time

X walks through a gateway toward Dark Necrobat’s Space Laboratory with a firm grimace on his face.

X: (v.o, thinking) Zero... Please be okay.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

INT. REPLIFORCE AIR BASE – Gateway Airlock - DAY

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 11:00 AM – UK Time

Zero walks through the Airlock towards Spiral Pegasus’ air fleet. When he opens the next shutter, he finds a fleet of green airships passing by.

ZERO: Hmph.  Looks like they’re on the move.  

He watches ship after ship pass by until one spots him and starts to fly closer.

ZERO: Oh no ya don’t!

Zero fearlessly dash-jumps on top of the airship and hitches a ride.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Zero!!  Are you crazy!!?

ZERO: (annoyed) Shut up, Alia.  I don’t have time for you…

He immediately cuts off the feed from his ear-piece.  Then, he notices Spiral Pegasus fly over to him with a discerning look on his face.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: I’ve wanted to see you, Zero…

The Skiver points at him with a grimace as he descends down to the airship.  Zero slowly rises to his feet and gives him a focused look.  

-      cut to –

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. SPACE LABORATORY – Dark Necrobat’s Lair - DAY --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once the shutter opens, X enters a Space Laboratory and sees a series of mysterious incubation and fermentation tanks.  Above him, swaths of batton bones appear from the dark shadows of the ceiling.  They disperse to reveal their master, Dark Necrobat, who lets out a horrible wrenching squeak.

DARK NECROBAT: WHREEAAAA!!!!!!  I’ve been waiting for you!

He flips in mid-air to an upright position.

X covers his ears in pain and looks up at him with displeasure.

X: HEY! Can’t you understand the urgency of our situation?

-      cut to –

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. REPLIFORCE AIR FLEET – The Skiver’s Challenge - DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spiral Pegasus lands on the airship and folds his arms.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: I wanted to ask you something…  My thoughts always come back to the Colonel.  I wanted to ask you if the battle between you two was necessary…

-      cut to –

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. SPACE LABORATORY – Dark Necrobat’s Lair - DAY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dark Necrobat lets out another awful squeak.

DARK NECROBAT: GROOAAAAA.  Who cares?!  I don’t take orders from anyone!  The word ‘Sigma’ means nothing to me!

X gasps.

X: (desperate) Then, listen to me for a second.  This is no time for a fight.

-      cut to-

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. REPLIFORCE AIR FLEET – The Skiver’s Challenge - DAY --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SPIRAL PEGASUS: (continuing) I’m not accusing you of anything. I just want to know.  That’s all…  

Zero closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

ZERO: (calm, upset) You of all people should already know… The whole Repliforce War was unnecessary…

Spiral Pegasus takes in a deep breath and nods in agreement with a crooked frown.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: Well, it’s too late now…  The damage has already been done.

-      cut to -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. SPACE LABORATORY – Dark Necrobat’s Lair - DAY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

X looks up at the Bat Maverick with pleading, respectful eyes.

X: Please… I need to borrow a Fuel Tank.

DARK NECROBAT: Grooooaaar!!!!  Not my problem.

X: It will be, if that Eurasia Colony crashes into the Earth and you didn’t help me stop it!!

Dark Necrobat sneers at X and shakes his head.

DARK NECROBAT: (piercing, foul) NREEEAAAAR!  This wretched Planet is already doomed.  I’ve been observing this World for the past 3 years…  Whether you are Maverick, Hunter or Human, we are all to blame for this Planet’s Destruction.

X: Noooo!  We can stop it and save Earth, if you’ll just help me!!!!

DARK NECROBAT: HYAAAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

-cut to-

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. REPLIFORCE AIR FLEET – The Skiver’s Challenge - DAY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SPIRAL PEGASUS: (resigned) I’ve already been infected by the Virus.  I’m destined to be retired by you once I become a Maverick, so go ahead. Take me down…  I want to fight you for the Colonel and Iris… That’s what they would have wanted.

Zero closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, calmly nodding in agreement.

ZERO: (honorable) I understand. But I’ll fight you only because this is my mission.

-      cut to –

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INT. SPACE LABORATORY – Dark Necrobat’s Lair - DAY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DARK NECROBAT: (laughing, continuing) Hahahah! –and what makes you think, I’m interested in Saving this World???  In situations like this, everybody dies – Mavericks and Hunters alike.  But since you came all the way here, I’ll just kill you myself!

X: (disturbed, aggravated) Hmph. I’ll destroy all Mavericks, like you!

DARK NECROBAT: RHEEAAAAARRRRR!!!!! I’m always ready!

X quickly picks up his buster and charges up.

X: Good!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. REPLIFORCE AIR FLEET – The Skiver’s Challenge – DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zero slowly raises his saber and holds it up with two hands.

ZERO: Now… let’s do it!!

[Insert Title Card – Conflicts of Interest]

Zero runs towards Spiral Pegasus, who swiftly turns back into a loop to gain momentum. The winds accelerate Spiral Pegasus, who puts out two hands in a charging dive towards Zero.

ZERO: Whoa!!

He jumps up when Spiral Pegasus reaches him and manages to knick him in the back of the shoulder.  

SPIRAL PEGASUS & ZERO: Agh.

The high winds cut Zero as he lands, while Spiral Pegasus favors his shoulder.

The two turn around to face each other.

Zero takes a slash, but Spiral Pegasus uses a swift dashing afterimage of himself to knock Zero all the way to the end of the wing.

ZERO: Aughh.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: Careful, Zero...  You don’t want to lose to the Repliforce like this.

-      cut to –

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. SPACE LABORATORY – Dark Necrobat’s Lair – DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

X: /Hyah!

X fires a piercing charge shot at a 45 degree angle, which catches Dark Necrobat in the chest.

X: Yaaaaaah!

X flies up to him and punches him in the face.

DARK NECROBAT: (hurt) NGRAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

He pushes out two arms and summons a swarm of bats to fly after X.

X: (surprised) Aughhh.

The swarm of bats try to cover X, but they are all destroyed by his protective aura.

DARK NECROBAT: Grrr/RAH!!!

He rushes over to X with his talons and forces him down to the floor.

X: Aghhh… You..

DARK NECROBAT: (squeaking) Skreeehehehehee!

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. AIR FLEET – Spiral Pegasus’ Challenge - DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ZERO: Hmph.  I’ll never lose to you!

Zero regains his footing and runs after Spiral Pegasus again.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: So be it, Hunter.

Spiral Pegasus dives after Zero once again, but this time Zero anticipates his movements.  He blasts him with two half-charged Z-buster shots, then at the last moment, he performs an F-Splasher.  From mid-air-dash, he raises himself just above Spiral Pegasus’ shoulder, so as not to ram into him.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: (hit) Urgghh..

He wavers back for a moment and shakes his head as Zero lands and /stabs him in the back.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: /Hooot!!!

With a gritty grin, Zero eagerly slashes Spiral Pegasus three times at his back.

ZERO: /Ha! /Hyah, /Haaah!!!  How do ya like that, Skiver?

He gives him a harsh kick in the back.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: (hurt, annoyed) Huuurgh! Dishonorable /FOOL!!!!

He turns around and /fires a twirling Wing Spiral at him.

ZERO: Whoooaaaaaa!

The tornado takes hold of Zero and quickly throws him off of the Aircraft.

-      cut to –

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT.  SPACE LABORATORY – Dark Necrobat’s Lair - DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dark Necrobat holds X down to the ground with both feet planted on his arms.

X: Aggggkk.. Damn, you!!!

DARK NECROBAT: Rheeeeheeheeheehee!!!!!

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Try using your Giga Attack, X.  It might be the only way out of this.

X’s eyes widen at the idea.  Then he closes them tightly, and unleashes the power from his core.

X: Hh/Yaaaaaah!!!!

Suddenly without warning, a stream of piercing laser charge shots emit from his body.  In his immediate vicinity, the lasers rise up and rain down upon Dark Necrobat at a 90 degree angle.

DARK NECROBAT: (damaged) Aaaaaaggghhhh!!!!!  What.. the.. Heeeelll was thaaaat!!!!!?

Dark Necrobat steps back and starts to float up in retreat as he hunches over and huddles his own chest.

X rises to his feet with a valiant look on his face.

X: If you’ve really been paying attention, you’d know that I am X – a reploid with Limitless Potential!!  Now take this!!!

X’s armor shifts into orange as he unleashes a Flash Laser, gained from Izzy Glow.  The firefly inspired missile has a long trail of laser-light, which X is actually able to direct with a Neural-link from the late doctor’s smart technology.

X wills for the laser missile to fly right into Dark Necrobat at a 45 degree angle.  The laser follows through and bursts right into his stomach.

DARK NECROBAT: (hurting) Urrrr-gg-gg-gg-gg-gghhH!!!!

The laser-light trail inserts itself within Dark Necrobat’s stomach, only affecting him more, after the fact.

-cut to –

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. AIR FLEET – Spiral Pegasus’ Challenge – DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ZERO: (hurt, scared) Aaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spiral Pegasus narrows his eyes at Zero and swiftly flies over to him.

He rams against him in mid-air with an uppercut to the face.

ZERO: /Awh!!

Spiral Pegasus swiftly flies away and doubles back, as Zero falls again.  This time from the other angle, Spiral Pegasus dives downward and checks him with the shoulder, making Zero spin violently in mid- air, as he helplessly plummets downward.

At last, Spiral Pegasus takes pity upon Zero and falls at the same rate at him.  With an after-image Wind Shredder, Zero is knocked far back among the winds and shoved on top of another Aircraft.

He spins and topples along the wings, feeling damaged and dizzy upon his landing. He throws up almost immediately on the roof of the Aircraft.

ZERO: (vomiting, coughing) Euuooghhhhh!!!!! Ff-ughhhh. Huhh.. Haggghkk!

He tries to cough to clear up his throat as Spiral Pegasus folds his arms with a smirk.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: (mocking) Ohhhh my, Zero…  Tisk, tisk!

He shakes his head and floats towards his position.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: Come now… I thought you were better than this.

Zero grits his teeth and powers up a dark, purple hand.

ZERO: I AM!!

He plants his fist into the Aircraft and unleashes his Messenko Giga Attack.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: What the-!?

The Aircraft immediately erupts as the attack itself catches Spiral Pegasus directly in the front-section.

ZERO & SPIRAL PEGASUS: AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Zero attempts to double jump in the air and use an air-dash to reach another Aircraft, but to no avail.  This time he is falling further below.

Before long, suddenly everything goes red and he feels himself teleporting.  In an instant, he is back on top of another Aircraft; one that was not far from the explosion.

Zero looks around amazed and surprised.  He quickly turns his com-link back on.

ZERO: Alia, was that you!?

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) It sure was.  Now either calm down and focus, or next time I’m Force Teleporting you straight home.  You got that!?

Zero is surprised by her demeanor, but it actually makes him smile.

ZERO: (respectful) Yes ma’am!

-      cut to –

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. SPACE LABORATORY – Dark Necrobat’s Lair - DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dark Necrobat hisses and floats further away from X into a high corner of the room.

DARK NECROBAT: How daaaare you disrespect me in my place of dwelling!

He takes a deep breath and unleashes a deafening sonic wave of power.

DARK NECROBAT: (shrieking) RHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

X: (hurt, affected) Awwwwhh…

X desperately covers his ears as three closely-knit rings of sonar waves near him.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Get out of there, X.

X: (hurt) AGH! Trying!!  Don’t talk, it Hurts!!!

X shakes his head and tries to dash away, from the sonar ring. He takes flight and manages to hover above it, but Dark Necrobat summons a second sonar ring, and then a third one.

X narrows his eyes, with his ears still covered tight.

X: (v.o, thinking) Damn, he got me good.  My only play is to fly around them and let my barrier do the work, but that won’t last! (aloud) Shoot!

X manages to get around the second one, but the third one covers him.

At once, X feels a sudden burst of pressure from within his ears, and then a heavy ringing slowly occurs.

X: (hurt) AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DARK NECROBAT: Aaahahahahah. AAAHAHAHAHAH!!!!! And now… You’re mine!!!!

He powers up to his fullest as he becomes surrounded in a dark aura of his own.

-      cut to –

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. AIR FLEET – Spiral Pegasus’ Challenge - DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spiral Pegasus lands on the new aircraft, where Zero has teleported.  He points at him from afar.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: That was a neat little trick you pulled, but don’t count on it happening again.

ZERO: Oh don’t worry. I learned my lesson. This time, my saber is all I need.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: Hmph.  And this time, I’ll just let you fall.

ZERO: (smirking) Come on!

The two run after each other once again.  Spiral Pegasus performs a swift dash, while Zero retaliates with a brave Electric-Blade uppercut.

Spiral Pegasus gets cut across the chest and shocked from within as he rams into Zero.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: (shocked) Aggggkkkk!!

Zero gets back up and tries to perform a fearless air-dash of his own to capitalize on the punishment. His F-Splasher is stopped short and overpowered by a spiral-covered fist, however.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: Grrrhaa.. Not this time, Hunter!

ZERO: (grumbling) Urrgghh. Aghh.

Zero shakes his head and gets back up, while Spiral Pegasus cricks his neck.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: This time, I’m going to end you for all the pain you’ve caused my loved ones!!!

He makes a few whirlwind blasts at Zero, who does his best to dash away from them or double jump over them.  

Zero charges up and takes a few Z-Buster shots as he inches closer to him.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: (hurt) Hurrrr!!

ZERO: /Aaaaaaah!

After double jumping above a cutting wing spiral, he lands in front of him.

ZERO: You killed some of my best men, too! We’re even!!

Zero takes a slash at him, but Spiral Pegasus grabs his wrist.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: No.

He uses the wind shredder after image to knock Zero far back, again.  He slides so far, he almost falls off the wing, but he holds on tight and struggles to get back onto the aircraft.

ZERO: Aaaaaagh!!!!

SPIRAL PEGASUS: On behalf of the Colonel, and Iris. It’s about time you died!

Flat down on the wing, Zero raises his neck with wide eyes of fear.

-      cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. SPACE LABORATORY – Dark Necrobat’s Lair – DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DARK NECROBAT: (intense) RRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

X tries to guard his face from the oncoming attack, when suddenly everything around him stops. The World seems inverted, now.

X: (v.o, thinking) What the..? What is this?  I CAN’T MOVE!!

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) X? X??  What’s happening??? Why aren’t you moving????  Talk to me!!!!!

X: (v.o, thinking) I don’t know. Can’t you hear me??? (gasping) I’m frozen.

DARK NECROBAT: Hreeheeheeehee.  Do you like my Dark Hold, X?  This is my specialty.

While X is in a frozen state, Dark Necrobat slowly looms over to X and stands before him.  He gives him a good hard smack, just because he can.

X: (v.o, thinking) OW!

X’s suspended face takes the hit and seemingly does nothing as a sore swells up on his cheek.

DARK NECROBAT: Aaahahahah.  I forgot, how much I love this part.  I’m gonna treat you like any other  tourist that accidentally walks in here…

X: (v.o, thinking, worried)

What??

DARK NECROBAT: It’s just a few... One or two... Here and there...  Not enough to be in the papers, but just enough to cause people to wonder.

X stares at Dark Necrobat, helpless.

DARK NECROBAT:

You can’t move, but I can feel the fear in your eyes. They’re saying, ‘what’s he gonna do to me?’  ‘What has he done to those poor humans…’ Well, I’ll show ya..!  First, I’m gonna borrow some of your Life Energy.

X: (v.o, thinking) Hm???

Dark Necrobat immediately opens his mouth and sinks his fangs into X’s neck like a vampire.

X: (v.o, hurt, draining)

Aaaaah. N-nn..noo.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Oh no!  X.  Eeeeeex!!!

He sucks in three gulps of energen to the point where X’s Falcon Armor powers down to his normal base armor.  Alia can be heard gasping from X’s com-link.

DARK NECROBAT: Theeere. That should do it.  You’re much stronger than the others. Usually the humans just pass right out! Next, I’m gonna throw you into one of my vats!!!

He thumbs over behind him to the incubation and fermentation tanks.

X’s eyes twitch amidst his suspended animation.

DARK NECROBAT: Ahhh, there ya go.  The Dark Hold is wearing off, I see.  Good…  It’ll be amusing to see you try to fight me, now. I guess this’ll be a three-step process.

He playfully scratches his head and closes his eyes.

DARK NECROBAT: Noooow, what am I in the mood for? X soup? Or maybe X a la Mode?? Ground X, or perhaps chopped X on a stick???

Suddenly, the Dark Hold effect shatters like glass and X manages to punch him really hard in the face with a glowing fist.

DARK NECROBAT: (shocked) /Kauugh!! WHAT THE!!?  How do you still have so much power????

X: I told you, my power is LIMITLESS! Allow me to show you!!

X pulls in his hands and lets out a hadouken, which breaks a hole right through Dark Necrobat’s stomach.

X: (winded, panting) I don’t know what kind of sick antics you’ve been pulling in secret, under the radar…  But it stops here!  Right, NOW!!!!  /Force Armor!!!

X calls upon his fourth armor and shifts it into Izzly Glow’s power set once again as he charges up.

DARK NECROBAT: THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO!!!!  KILLING ME WON’T STOP SIGMAAAAA!!!!!!!!

X: I /KNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

X /unleashes a fully charged F-Laser, which turns into a cannon blast of pure light.

DARK NECROBAT: (dying) AAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The cannon blast destroys the rest of Dark Necrobat’s armor as he withers into a massive explosion.

Caption: 1:30 PM – Egypt Time

Feeling exhausted, X powers down into his blue armor and stands victorious over the fallen bat. He spots his weapon chip and grabs it from the rubble.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) You just received the Dark Hold, but do you mind if Zero borrows it?

X: Hm?  Yeah, sure. Is he in trouble…?

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Not for long. Give me oooone sec.

In a second, the Dark Hold weapon chip is teleported directly out of his hands.

X: Huuuh?

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. AIR FLEET – Spiral Pegasus’ Challenge – DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 11:30 AM – London Time

Zero looks at Spiral Pegasus in fear as a weapon chip is suddenly teleported in his hand.

ZERO: Huh?

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Put this in your Z-Buster, quick!

ZERO: (confused) -but..

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Do it. Nooww!!!!

ZERO: (disoriented) Uhhh…

Spiral Pegasus flies after Zero, who scrambles to place the chip in his Z-Buster.  All at once, he stands up and unleashes the Dark Hold on Spiral Pegasus, which seems to freeze time itself in an inverted dimension.

ZERO: What the Hell is this??

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) It’s Dark Necrobat’s move.  Time is now frozen. Now finish your mission!

Zero closes his eyes in regret.  

ZERO: This feels wrong.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) The whole Repliforce War was wrong, but we need that Orbiter Wing, and you both are too stubborn to let go of the past. So this is the only way!

He lets out a short sigh.

ZERO: You’re right.  Besides… he was about to kill me, anyway…

He raises his saber andsharpens his eyes for the kill.With a few swift slashes and some spinning crescent slashes of the blade, he can already see the wounds separating from Spiral Pegasus’ armor.  With a final E-Blade uppercut, Zero knows that it is over.

ZERO: That’s it.  He’s done!

Caption: 11:32 AM

The World reverts itself to real-time as Spiral Pegasus looks at Zero with a confused, almost betrayed face.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: (hurt, dying) Y-you won…  How did you win??

He immediately drops to the top of the aircraft as he can feel himself falling apart.

Zero crouches down and begins to feel guilty.

ZERO: It had to be this way…  I’m sorry about everything.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: (arguing, repenting) It didn’t…  But, me too…

ZERO: Just tell me one thing.  Did Repliforce send the Colony down, or was it Sigma…?

Spiral Pegasus narrows his eyes at Zero, completely disgusted.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: Ughh…  It was Sigma you fool…

ZERO: (shrugging) Hey man.  You were the one’s who created the Final Weapon in the first place… So at this point, anything’s fair game.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: (admitting) We’ve had our faults, but it was Sigma who overtook our Colony... Years before trying to do this to us.

Zero gasps.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: Look.  You’re all that’s left, now! My Air-Force is destined to go Maverick. I can’t let that happen.  ...I need you to take them out...

Zero’s eyes widen, surprised.  He has his blessing, now.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: D-don’t let this happen to anyone else…!

ZERO: Wow, Skiver.  I don’t know what to say…

SPIRAL PEGASUS: …Heheh…  Each of these Air-Crafts have an Orbiter Wing…  That’s what you came for right?  This Aircraft should be enough to give you what you need.

ZERO: …How did you know we needed that..??

SPIRAL PEGASUS: I overheard your navigator yelling at you, when you froze time.  You should listen to her more..  She’s a keeper!  Just like, Iris was…

Zero raises his eyes as he feels a cut at the heart.

ZERO: Hmph…  Well, I should get going.  I’ll respect your wishes.  When I’m done here, my next target is Burn Dino-Rex.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: Hahah…  Finishing us all off, I see…  In that case, take this. Quick!

He pulls out his own weapon chip and holds it up in the air, as he struggles to hold on to his swelling core reactor.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: It’s his weakness…

Zero grabs it and notices that Spiral Pegasus is about to blow.

ZERO: Thanks, man. I won’t forget this.

Zero turns and runs as Spiral Pegasus gives him a dying look.

SPIRAL PEGASUS: You’d better get in that ship now...

Zero races over to the cockpit, narrows his eyes and uses the Dark Hold once again.  With time frozen, Zero opens up the cockpit of the inverted Air-Craft.  He throws the pilot outside and closes the cockpit door.

When he resets time, the pilot falls far down from mid-air.

PILOT: Hu-WHOOOAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

SPIRAL PEGASUS:

(wide-eyed) This is it…!

He throws himself into the wind and bursts into a wild explosion.  The heavy charred winds from the blast push the Air-Craft further ahead.

-      cut to –

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. SPACE LABORATORY – Gateway – DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 1:37 PM – Egypt Time

When the shutter gate re-opens X turns around with a concerned look.  

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Don’t worry about Zero. He’s fine, now.

He sighs with relief and walks back through the gates.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) With regards to Dark Necrobat…  He was a Maverick created three years ago by Sigma…

X: That’s scary, right? It makes me wonder what other surprises Sigma had in store for us, all these years…

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Well, you destroyed him… That’s all that matters.  

X: No it’s not, Alia.  You don’t get it, because this is still new to you.  If it’s not Necrobat, it’s the next guy.  The Cycle keeps repeating all because of Sigma. He keeps coming back! No matter, what I do…

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Since Sigma scattered a large amount of the Virus, he shouldn’t have any energy left to reproduce himself…

X: You think, so?

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) I hope, so…  By the way, we’ve found the Fuel Tank.

After completely switching gears in conversation, X does a double take and smiles at her bubbly tone.

X: (surprised, uplifted) Wait, what? Really!?

ALIA: (o.s, filtrered) Yeah.  Frostbite and Freeze Alopex sniffed it out.  Now the Shuttle will be able to fly to the Space Colony…

X: Wow.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Zero, also successfully completed his mission and is on his way to bringing us an Orbiter Wing.

X: (thrilled) Good!

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Also, there's another Light Capsule, below you in the other room.

X: (ecstatic) What!??

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Ohh yeah.  Now that you have some time, you should check it out.

X: (smiling) Heh.

-      cut to –

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. AIRCRAFT – Cockpit – DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zero focuses on the Repliforce Airfleet ahead while he patches a com-link into Alia from the plane.

ZERO: Hey, Alia!  Give this to X for me, will ya?  One, for one.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Hm? Oh, it’s a weapon chip. Alright.

In an instant, the weapon chip is teleported out of his hand.

ZERO: Heh… Sorry, for being rude to you before.  I got caught up in the mission and just lost myself for a minute there…

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) …I didn’t expect you to have to fight against the Repliforce again.  But since most of them became Mavericks… I guess that was inevitable… Fortunately, the devices for the Shuttle were not damaged… but the Air Force was not so lucky…  It won’t be safe there anymore.

ZERO: I know. And it’s not over yet!

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Oh, God…  Before you do anything reckless, just make sure that Orbiter Wing stays in tact, okay??

ZERO: (smiling) I will.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered, regretful) I’m sending Rho and Frenzy in to bring some back, just in case you don’t...

ZERO: Huh?

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Do what you have to…  Over and out.

Zero looks at his com-link bewildered.

ZERO: Yeesh, that was a little harsh...  But I guess I deserved that.

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. PLANETARIUM – Secret Corridor - DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the gateway, X drops down into a narrow vertical corridor that he had bypassed, before.

X: (surprised) I can’t believe there’s another one, down here!!

He lands before a wall and tries to shoot it with his X-Buster, his charged shot, a few C-Shots, a Goo Shaver and some Tri-Thunder waves, but nothing works.

X: (gasping) Ah.. I’m so exhausted from before, I can't summon the Force Armor to charge my weapons any more! ALIA: (o.s, filtered) No, X. You're going about it all wrong.  In order to get passed this obstacle, you're going to need a weapon that you can remotely control.

X: Huh?? Suddenly she pulls up a vid-link screen for him from his gauntlet. The screen displays a blueprint layout of what lies behind the wall. ALIA: Its a maze, X!  You'll need to use the F-Laser again, for this!! X: Aw man! Alia, you're a genius!!! ALIA: I know...  I'll keep the vid-link up to guide you through it. X: Okay!

-      cut to –

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. NEW MHHQ – Signas’ Office - NIGHT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 3:43 AM – Hexagon Time

In Signas’ private office, Lifesaver displays a wire-grid schematic analysis of the evolved Sigma Virus heads that X and Zero have been encountering.

ZERO: (filtered, audio) I’ve been fighting the Sigma Virus for a long time…  It is the virus that causes all Reploids to transform into Mavericks. The most dreadful virus to ever exist.  

A vid-link is attached, showing Zero woefully staring at his hands while on the Rail-lift at the Repliforce Air Base.

ZERO: (filtered, audio)

Why…?  Why am I not harmed?  Instead, I feel energy growing within my body..  What on earth is happening to me?? I have a bad feeling about this…

We pan out to see Signas with Lifesaver, viewing the footage of Zero’s private fears.

LIFESAVER PRIME: (reporting) …That’s all of the report on Zero.

Signas takes a deep breath before he speaks.

SIGNAS: (pensive) Zero has fought Sigma several times.  I believe he has the Virus antibodies.

LIFESAVER PRIME: It’s possible… He doesn’t react negatively to the Virus… His power-output is actually growing!  For the most part, the body systems of X and Zero remain mysteries.  I can’t predict what will happen.  I suggest you take measures…

Signas puts his hand to his chin and thinks for a moment.

SIGNAS: (calm, discreet) Keep this information secret.  I’ll think it over…

He pensively looks at his monitor.

LIFESAVER PRIME: His power is growing with the virus!  It’s too dangerous to keep them loose! Please… at least do something about Zero… before it’s too late!

SIGNAS: I’ll look into it…  Thank you, Lifesaver.

He continues to look at his monitor and calmly waves Lifesaver away.

-      cut to –

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. REPLIFORCE AIR FLEET – Zero’s Ambush – DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 11:44 AM – London Time

Without warning, Zero sneak attacks the aircrafts ahead of him. Aircrafts on his far right and left immediately veer off into a loop to get behind him, while Aircrafts at his immediate sides try to ram into him.

Zero brings his Aircraft down and fires missiles up at his opponents.

Aircrafts from behind him slow down to get a better lock on him and then fire their missiles upon him.

ZERO: Heeere we go.

He takes evasive maneuvers and spins around, dodging the missiles as other Aircrafts loop around towards his position.

-pan inside the cockpit-

ZERO: So it all comes down to this. A final dog-fight in the skies.  Well I’m gonna take you all down for Ren, Rayven and Burn Bishop!

- cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. PLANETARIUM – Secret Corridor – DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 1:44 PM – Egypt Time

X had tried to use the F-Laser within the maze-like piping of the wall ahead of him multiple times.  Each missile had been caught in the ceiling, or the opposing wall on the other side.  The trickiest part is wrapping the missile around the bend, upside down and pointing it towards him.  Despite safely being on the other side of the wall, the directional inputs continue to unnerve him.

X: Ah man... I’ve been at this for almost 10 minutes! ALIA: (sighing) Yep.

-      cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. REPLIFORCE AIR FLEET – Zero’s Ambush – DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zero’s Aircraft accelerates and loops around in twists and bends, until he can get the advantage on some further Aircrafts.  After making an opening for himself, he

notices two other aircrafts fly closely at his sides.

-pan inside his Aircraft-

ZERO: You want some too, huh?

FRENZY FOX: (filtered) Whooaa, whoa, hold it Z. It’s me.

ZERO: (shocked) Frenzy??

FRENZY FOX: You bet.

RHO: (filtered) I’m here too, Zero.  Now let’s finish these bastards.

ZERO: Niiiiice, guys. Let’s go!

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INT. PLANETARIUM – Secret Corridor - DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

X: Alright. Finally! I got it!! He rushes toward the capsule with a dash. DR. LIGHT: Hello, X. Here I will give you another program for your armor…  This is an armor prototype that I created a long, long time ago…  I named it the Gaea Armor.

X: (gasping) Gaea Armor…

DR. LIGHT: Gaea Armor specializes in defense ability. It is very heavy and lacks mobility, however…  You won’t be able to use special weapons, I’m afraid.

X: (nodding) Alright.

DR. LIGHT: Still, I’m sure it will prove very useful to you once it’s complete. Analyze and upload this data for the head part of the Gaea Armor in a secure area. Once you upload all 4 programs, the Gaea Armor will be complete.

With that, he disappears.

X: Okay!

He steps inside the capsule and receives the data for his new Gaea helmet.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Wonderful.  I actually have one more place to send you.

X: Hm??

Suddenly he is teleported away.

-cut to-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. REPLIFORCE AIR RAIL – Dr. Light’s Capsule – DAY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 11:46 AM – London Time

X is taken to another Capsule on a small platform, high in the sky. Above him, he can notice aircrafts flying frantically and firing missiles in the air.

X: What the-!?  Where am I??

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) It’s kind of a Warzone now, but we need this.  You’re at the Repliforce Airbase.  Or… what’s left of it.

-      pan high up in the sky -

Zero, Rho and Frenzy Fox triple team a wave of Spiral Pegasus’ Air Force, until Zero decides to think outside of the box.

-      pan inside his cockpit -

ZERO: Hmm… Maybe this Dark Hold will come in handy, after all.

- pan far down below to X-

X’s eyes become wide as he tries to take a closer look. He notices a whole line of aircrafts completely stop short while another aircraft swoops in and shoots them all down.

X: What in the World??

ALIA:

(o.s, filtered) That’s Zero.  He’s eliminating the last of the Repliforce before they become Mavericks.

X immediately scowls.

X: HE CAN’T! THAT’S WHAT WE FOUGHT FOR THIS WHOLE TIME!! THE FACT THAT THEY STILL DESERVE A CHANCE!!!

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Nooo, X. You don’t understand. It was Pegasus’ last wish.

X: Huh???

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) They’ve all been infected by the Sigma Virus.  

X: (calmer, concerned) Ohh..

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) You have no idea what Zero went through, here.  They were about to bomb the whole place and self-destruct.  It may not look like it, but he’s actually saving them from themselves!!

X looks down in awe.

X: Oh man! I never thought about it that way before.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) That’s what I’m here for.  One way or another, Sigma’s Infection could lead to something worse.  So Spiral Pegasus insisted that Zero made sure they died as Reploids rather than Mavericks.

X lets that thought sink in as he frowns.

X: ………I understand. I’d want the same to be done to me, if I ever turned…

She gasps over the coms.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Don’t talk like that. Positive thoughts! We’re gonna win this, man. That’s why I sent you here!!

X nods.

X: Alright.  The sooner we update this Shuttle, the better.

DR. LIGHT: This is the program for the body part of the Gaea Armor. With this equipped, you will receive less damage to your systems.

X nods and walks into the capsule, feeling graver than before. Despite the fact that they are winning the day, he can’t help but feel helpless to Sigma’s affect on the World. Emotional exhaustion and numbness has already taken it’s toll on him.

The fantastic rays of light flash and seep into his gem as he receives more data towards his Gaea Armor. X steps out of the Capsule with another data program received.

ALIA: (o.s, filtered) Please return to the Hunter Base quickly.

X: Alright. I’m ready!

In an instant, he is teleported out of there.

-      pan above X –

His teleportation light trail disappears.

The size of the Air Fleet has been dwindled down immensely.  With 5 Aircrafts left, Zero, Rho and Frenzy feel as if they have this Victory in the bag.

-      pan inside Zero’s cockpit –

ZERO: This is it, guys! We got ‘em!

-      pan outside of his cockpit –

The 3 Maverick Hunters chase the 5 Repliforce Aircrafts, and tail them down when suddenly, one ship cuts off it’s own engine source and sacrifices itself, for the greater good.

FRENZY FOX: (filtered) WHOOAAAAAAA. NNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

His aircraft kamikazes into the one ahead of him causing a massive mid-air explosion.

RHO: (o.s, filtered) Frenzzzyyyyyy!!!!

Immediately the one near him uses the same tactic, turning directly on it’s side and /ramming directly into his wing.

RHO: (o.s, filtered) /GhhhaaaaaaaahhhhhH!!!

ZERO: (o.s, filtered) Nooo. You bastards!!!!!

With 3 aircrafts left, Zero circles and bends avoiding their fire.  Then, he maneuvers to a point where they are zooming towards him, ready for a head-on collision.

-pan inside his cockpit-

ZERO: (intense) DARK HOLD!!!!!!

He uses the last of the time-freezing weapon, having them all targeted in a line. With them locked on, he pulls the trigger and sends the missiles.

The Dark Hold breaks, completely drained of it’s use, as the missiles gained a 5 second headstart.

Now, the 3 Repliforce Aircrafts collide directly with their missiles, as Zero narrowly races through their explosion.

ZERO: (crazy, amazed) WWWWWHOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Caption: 12:00 Noon

After taking a moment to contain himself, Zero sobers up and falls back into a grimace, realizing that his colleagues are dead.  He presses a button to com-link with Alia.

ZERO: It’s done, Alia… But we lost Rho and Frenzy. I’m sorry…

He hears nothing on the other end of the receiver, but static.

ZERO: Aw come on…  I know you’re mad, but don’t give me the silent treatment…

The static continues.

ZERO: …Alia? ….Alia!

The static remains constant.

ZERO: …..What is going on over there?

-      cut to –

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXT. NEW MHHQ – Space Shuttle Dock – NIGHT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caption: 4:00 AM – Hexagon Time

X bravely stands up to Dynamo, who has just killed Freeze Alopex.

At his feet lies the dead vixen. He has crushed her larynx.

Behind X, Alia and Douglas watch with worried faces.

SIGNAS: (o.s, loudspeaker) Emergency! Dynamo has come back here to attack! What on Earth does he want?!

-Freezeframe. Grainy Effect-

[mandi-celeste]

I watched the Season 4 finale eps when they aired in Korea first, so I knew what was coming (I saw it coming when we learned what the titles for the finale eps were going to be…let’s be real, the whole fandom saw this coming).

I wasn’t emotionally impacted by the death at the time. Mildly horrified by how brutal it was, yes, but I wasn’t really sad over it. With all the fake out deaths we’ve been given for Splinter in this series (the fight in the S2 finale, the season 3 finale, the first fight with Super Shredder with the two of them tumbling over the edge into the pit…), I felt like they ruined the emotional impact his actual death in this episode was supposed to have on me. I was still looking forward to seeing the episode again with the original English cast though, because I knew they were going to do fantastic with the scenes.

They certainly did.

I was so much more moved by Splinter’s death and the reactions of all of the kids this time around. I was actually in tears this time as I watched it.

Mikey holding Splinter’s limp hand, and tearfully sobbing Papa….that freaking killed me.

The actors all did a phenomenal job, and the animation was stunning (I kinda felt like the Korean broadcast version I saw was…unfinished? The animation looked so much better here to me, and I swear there was more noticable background score too).

My only complaint is that I wish Karai was there for it too, and wish she had been the one to push Super Shredder off the roof after he killed Splinter. After everything that monster has put her through: raising her to hate her biological father and possibly assassinate him for Shredder if Shredder couldn’t do it himself, the emotional manipulation and abuse he put her through when she thought she was his daughter, the brainwashing after she learned the truth and turned on him, hurting people she’s grown to care about and threatening to kill Shinny unless she joined him again, ordering Stockman to perfect the mutation so he could kill Karai without feeling any hesitation or remorse in doing so, coldly referring to her mother’s death just before he tried to kill her, and topping it off by killing the loving father she didn’t get much time to really bond with and get to know….it really should have been her, not April.

I get that Karai’s been trying to kill Shredder since she learned the truth. I get that Splinter thought of April as a surrogate daughter, and that April (and possibly Casey) viewed Splinter as a second father…but, I don’t know, I guess I’m just tired of seeing Karai robbed of being there with her family and for her family in emotional moments like these.

I sincerely hope that in Season 5 we see her spend more time with her brothers, and bond with them. I hope that Season 5 doesn’t sweep this emotionally devastating blow the family has been dealt under the rug, I hope we see the emotional impact it has on all of them (not just Leo) and how they grow from it.

I have faith in Season 5. I’ve had my gripes about this show, how it feels like such wasted potential a lot of the time, but I do still love it dearly. And when the writers up the ante, and really give it their all, they do tell a great story that hits the right heartstrings. I think they will definitely give it their all for the final season. I look forward to seeing where they go with this!

[panizhe]

My thoughts about Requiem

Okay iam kinda mad and sad in the same time: / First of all ....yeah they finally did it they freaking killed splinter for real this time ! I can't stop crying for God sake this is the first time ever that I cry over a so called a kid show !! (Although I already watched it on Korea before but still ) that scene that music that screaming EVERY SINGLE THING ruined me ciro and brandon surely know how to make fans suffer ! I really loved the ep my heart was beating so fast during the whole ep the voice actress did awesome job well done ! Okay here is some things that really pissed me off .... 1.KARAI SHOULD THROWN SHREDDER OFF THAT BUILDING NOT APRIL!!!! I'm like super mad at this... karai was the one that suffered from shredder more than everyone else but instead she have to stay back ...why just WHY !!!! And I don't really like this whole love around april (don't get me wrong I love her really😅 ) like she is already everyone's favourite well almost 😅....splinter cared about her since the beginning of the show they had so many cute and special moments together which is very sweet .... But why splinter didn't shared like this moments with karai too as far as I know she is his biological daughter the only thing that had left from his love tang shen ... Why when Sth happen with april he goes to help her as quick as he can... but for karai he just rely on his son's like it's their responsibility this has fully showed on the ep vengeance is mine .... I know I shouldn't talk about these on this post but I really feel bad for karai that she didnt even had the chance to meet to her mother ...and her father died too without having so many special moments together .... I hope you guys dont see this whole post as a bad thing for the characters you like I just wanted to share my thoughts as well oh and sorry for my bad English Iam still learning lol Thanks for reading all of this !!!!

[spectrumscribe]

I live commented on the latest (and very leaked) episode of TMNT and this was the result.

Spoilers below, obviously speaking. Avoid if you don’t want to see this shit before you see the actual episode of Owari.

Not much of a break down or analysis of the episode, just me being salty about a lot of things.

----------------------------

Finally he’s fucking dead

Why did they bury him don’t they cremate folks in japan

Oh fuck no he’s still alive

Wait no he’s a ghost, fucking great.

Oh real helpful advice splinter thank you

No he’s not the fucking sensei he’s their idiot older brother don’t tell him he has more power than he does

Oh oh he’s leaving

Fucking bye splinter, real useful advice as always.

Now the hospital scene. God. Karai I’m sorry your life sucks you didn’t deserve this.

Oh hey they mentioned Casey has an actual family. Whoa. It’s only been like two three seasons since they did.

Ew hand holding

Ew touchy hand holding

Nice a montage scene

Casey you disaster I love you, I can’t believe he did that to shredder’s mask. Oh wait yes I can he’s Casey.

Okay everyone looks like they’ve been listening to too much MCR and I can’t tell if I hate it or love it.

At least April is untouched.

Kay I have to admit, the sneaky black look when they’re in the actual dark is p cool.

Also April killin it as always. Thank you for that nick.

Y’all have been at this for like three years stop tempting fate and saying the Thing every time you get a break.

Real strategic guys, go straight for the cliff. Nice.

Aw shit its Xever. Finally someone who knows what they’re doing at least most of the time.

Apparently Raph leveled up since the last time he fought Xever. Nice.

Whoa cold, leaving him to suffocate. I like.

I can’t believe it only took a whole four seasons to get the kids on board with the murder plan.

Yo what the retromutagen is back?? Where the shit has it been all this time.

Omg the reason stockman has been a fly all this time is because he liked it. He actually liked it. Wonders never cease.

“Michael” omfg

“Michael” I can’t get over that. That’s almost as strange as Mikey saying “papa” out of nowhere.

At least bebop and rocksteady don’t forget Casey and April like the plot often does. Thanks guys.

Oh hell yes some Donnie ninja action for the first time in forever. Donnie hurry Casey is about to die and you’re not the one to do it.

Wow I can’t believe they finally remembered the shit Donnie can do when used correctly. Beautiful.

OH SHIT ROBOT ARM NICE

“-all of your hands,” nice

Ooh clockwork hands are nifty. Loving the steampunk.

Okay so April can take a full on punch from tigerclaw but not one slash from shredder on the arm, like what??? Continuity, people, please.

And Leo continues to have bad catch phrases in battle. Bring this back more often thanks.

OH SHIT MORE TIGERS

YES

Bruh wait has tigerclaw been chillin with a bunch of actual tigers

This seems like furry shit

I’m calling it he’s a cat fucker

MOLOTOV COCKTAIL THE NINJA EDITION YEEEAAAAH

Oh and we conveniently leave the humans behind. nice.

Showdown. Fuck yeah.

A family that murders together stays together. Kill a bitch, boys.

Actually working together in battle, nice nice. Everyone’s getting their shots in, I’m loving it.

OH FUCK IS IT GONNA BE DEE?

no of course not, who am i kidding why would they let him do anything cool in this hell show.

Retromutagen time. Oh no it doesn’t fucking work, of course it didn’t work.

DEE NO

Oh nvm his boyfriend and girlfriend saved him.

But shit he can’t get back up. Convenient.

YES MIKEY GO BEAT HIS ASS

NO DON’T

FUCK- well there he goes too. Bye Mikey, RIP.

The first they show of how scary he is in seasons and he’s thrown off a building. Ugh.

And there goes Raph too. At least he smashed shredder’s head against shit before then.

Oh shut up Leo shredhead obvs gives no shits anymore. Don’t try guilting him now.

HA HIS ARM

FUCKING

WOW JUST LIKE KARAI NOW YOU CAN BE TWINSIES

Rat dad no this is not the time for a vision

“Fear nothing” um excuse me that’s not helpful here

Wtf why was Leo’s sword able to defeat shredder but not fucking Karai’s, who had a direct shot at his stupid radioactive heart

I call bullshit

BULLSHIT

also

OH FUCK ITS HIS HEAD

Wait no it’s not a head. I thought it was a head.

The end- oh wait no more hetero

“-what no one else could,” like you?? Why is she just letting this go? Karai don’t let it go. You wanted the bastard dead and you didn’t get to do it yourself why are you not mad.

What happened to Leo’s broken arm. Did he healing hand it when no one was looking and not share that with Karai. Wtf.

Well that was a horrendously out of character moment from Raph. Thanks nick.

Everyone emerges from the shadows to cockblock Leo, bless.

Why are you all out in the middle of daylight holy fuck

Guys get underground it’s like noon or something

“Right, sensei?” guys Leo’s talking to thin air you should do something about that

And we pan out with a watermark in the sky of splinter. Real classy.

Okay but

WHERE IS SHINI

HELL WHERE IS EVERYBODY

Guys you had like, an armada of friends who are basically tanks why didn’t you use them to defeat shredder.

Wtf

-------------------

Okay so all in all- yikes.

Ignoring some continuity errors, it just felt… kind of really rushed? Also a bit forced in specific areas.

The whole “Leo defeats the big bad” thing is really bothering me. This was a family fight. The whole family. That should have been the brothers all together, their friends who are basically their extended family now, and Karai maybe?? Since she’s actually related to and very deeply involved in this mess??

But nope. Lone Wolf Leo strikes again. As per fucking usual. I don’t know how they’re expecting Leo to lead the team, honestly. His skills on teamwork need some serious polishing. (The whole “you are their father and master now” thing with splinter last ep is still seriously bothering me. Like…. Eugh.)

Definitely not a fan of how things worked out. We barely saw the other brothers do much of anything, Karai was flipping bed ridden- I swear she wasn’t that injured in the last episode, I’m calling bull- and Casey and April were utterly exiled from the final showdown.

Nvm that the Mutanimals- who lost their only safe refuge and literal home in all this- weren’t even mentioned. Also Shini. Where did that beautiful murder lady get off to? She was fine in the last ep, why didn’t she show up and shank shredder for her wonderful senpai?

And the retromutagen. Seriously, that’s been completely ignored for over a season, and it suddenly shows up again. There’s been a number of innocent mutants come and gone who could have used that stuff. Feels weird that the boys never even offered them the chance at humanity again. (Karai too, have they even told her it exists?? Though I doubt she’d take that offer, it’d still be nice if they at least told her she has the choice.)

((What is it with this show and taking choices away from characters? More specifically the female ones.))

At least we got an explanation why stockman was still a fly. Wow is he a weirdo. Gotta love him for it though.

So yeah, lots of dropped points here. Important points. Would have been nice to actually mention a few of them, even just in passing.

Over all I didn’t feel much emotion or gravity from the episode. Mostly just salt. I’ll bet people will be crying all over the place about what happened in this thing and I’ll just be sitting here feeling nothing but sodium powered emotion.

I’m still kind of really laughing over the whole MCR look though. I can’t wait to see all the angsty AMV’s that come from this, it’ll be fucking hilarious.

[lulusoblue]

UK FINALLY got to air "The Power Inside Her"

I’ll put my thoughts at the end of the post, for now enjoy some live commentary of my ongoing thoughts, featuring @onthespectrumwriting and tested & approved by @call-me-the-cooky-one

• intro so far: love Leo sitting nearby like the concerned bff for April’s sake “look your powers scare me but Donnie getting closer to mad scientist levels is scarier”

• lulu: OF COURSE THIS GOES WRONG spectrum: what did they expect to happen yes poke the big scary unknown force with a stikc great idea!!!!!

• lulu: *ties crystal of destructive power to a leash* bad crystal spectrum: i love raph’s solution to things

• April cuddling up to Leo = awwww now we know the writer’s true agenda; they were faking us out for Aprinardo all along i mean CUDDLING can’t be platonic and that isn’t worry on Donnie’s face, it’s JEALOUSY

• i have yet to see all the “Apritello” people say this episode has aside from them just basically interacting with each other and if it’s his concern over the crystal well then the show must be dropping hints for pairing her with every male in the main cast

• lulu: EEEEEEYYYYYYY MY PUCKHEAD GETS A SPOTLIGHT AGAIN get rekt TC spectrum: yo casey was AMAZING in this ep soak in the glory that is the trash child

• lulu: also just remembered Rahzar is still alive spectrum: somehow even though april killed him lulu: dude can get run over by a train and be fine later like that’s actually scary spectrum: yeeee puckhead can kick his ass tho lulu: he sure grilled Fishface that’s for sure

• lulu: *pokes the crystal with a stick literally instead of figuratively* “I think i’m beginning to get it now” get what that the crystal is bad? spectrum: its never said that donnie practices Safe sciencing

• lulu: April force choking Donnie is what I live for now spectrum: ha ha ha holy fuck donnie lulu: like it should be the go-to for forced romantic advances spectrum: donnie you poor sot

• Splinter being the one to first snap her out of it and not Donnie /clearly/ they’re shipping her with Splinter and we have to call out Nick for grossness ASAP WHY ARE THE PEOPLE SO BLIND

• also holy shit she’s turning into a dungeon boss

• lulu: oh look she’s crying Casey’s name while focusing on saving people IT’S CANON WHEN WILL THE BLIND SHEEP SEE?! (this is totally not me being a biased shipper because that would be hypocritical) spectrum: (oh obvs, but watch how she ignores him the rest of the ep) lulu: (fool, there is only Za-Naron the rest of the ep) spectrum: (i will see you in court on why that’s not entirely true) lulu: (and ignorance obviously means love if Apritello can get away with it)

• we are introduced to Za-Naron https://youtu.be/7jz7rFuZZZc all i am thinking watching this

• (poor casey has no grappling hook)

• me: don don’t say it Donnie: Give me the crystal me: oh my god YOU’D THINK HE’D KNOW BETTER THAN TO ASK FOR IT BY THIS POINT aaaaand donnie go bye bye

((at this point time difference takes a hold and spectrum must sleep, i venture onward alone))

• well April’s sad moment over Donnie didn’t last too long almost like there wasn’t enough time in the episode to really flesh out the seriousness of this arc

• Hun stares death in the face and laughs ajdbwjsndksnxek we need more 2012 Hun he’s such a confident ass

• “but what if April’s still in there?” Casey you are the only one allowed to properly emote in this ep, like relish your spotlight Case 👌 STOP ZOOMING IN ON CASEY’S WOBBLY LIP WE GET IT YOU FORGOT TO HAVE ANYONE ELSE BE SAD OVER THE SITUATION

• OH JESUS SHE’S BLOODBENDING RAPH’S BODY NOW

• “HEY BEFORE YOU KILL ME REMEMBER HOW YOU ALREADY KILLED DONNIE” that’s what I’m getting here nothing that shippy and she only destroys he crystal after Leo reminds her /she’s/ the only one who can APRINARDO IS CANON CRY SHIPPERS CRY THE BASIC INTERACTIONS BETWEEN TWO CHARACTERS DO NOT LIE

• finally she uses that tanto i was beginning to think it was an ornament with how little it was utilised

• “it was /all me/ in a way” oooooooooooooooo now THIS LINE why are people ignoring THIS LINE

• from now on all death will be referred to as Molecular Scattering it’ll be what the Shadow Realm is to the Yu-Gi-Oh dub

• Donnie just letting April flop onto the cement PFFFFFFFT

• Everyone but Splinter just keeping their distance

• CASEY STANDS UP SOON AS SHE’S AWAKE I’M CALLING CAPRIL IF PEOPLE CAN CRY APRITELLO WHEN DONNIE GETS FORCE CHOKED I CAN CRY WHEN CASEY JUMPS TO HIS FEET LIKE SOMEONE WAITING FOR NEWS ON A LOVED ONE AT THE HOSPITAL

• “hey i know you guys are nervous about my powers since i kinda blew one of you up and bloodbended the shit outta Splinter and Raph but CHECK OUT THIS SICK MOVE” *levitates sword from her belt into her hand*

All in all I still enjoyed the episode. I really wish we had some more build up to Za-Naron, or maybe a two-parter for the conclusion of this arc. The boys could have emoted a little more, but I put that down to how much that had time for in the episode and not the writing team trying to make the death of a brother a “no biggie” for the rest of the team (again i really think this should’ve been a two-parter).

Honestly S4 is kind of cramped in terms of story. Space doesn’t feel as important, Karai VS Shredder doesn’t feel as important. IMO they should’ve made space take up the whole season, if only so we could explore it more or have the chance to build some urgency, then had S5 focus on taking down Shredder so we’d have more action there *cough*andShini*cough*. Of course, that would be more in an ideal world, where Playmates isn’t breathing down Nickelodeon’s neck and the writers have no fear of not being renewed for a sixth season.

I’m really hopeful that S5 is a little more focused. From what we’ve heard thus far it sounds like they’re going for more contained story arcs, a little like TMNT 2003 had with their various shenanigans and mishaps. ‘course I probably won’t be too bothered by anything at all so long as we get more Karai and Shinigami. *shakes fist* WE’D BETTER GET MORE KARAI AND SHINIGAMI

disclaimer: my comments on shipping do not necessarily focus on Apritello… mmmostly, i’m just an adult with extra salt who remembers how much one can read into things if it means making it about their ship. i did it with Digimon, i did it with Pokémon, shipping is just a big mess of stockpiling screenshots of your OTP standing within close proximity to me 😶