Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Portals where a weird thing.

Like most magic it seemed to be triggered by emotions. Which is fine, okay, great even! But it was also some how triggered by just running at your sibling who can also use to give them a hug while you have a mystic fritz? A lot less fine, okay, great. Then said mystic fritz flings you across New York in an alleyway all alone with a head wound and completely drained of mystic energy?

Really not fine, okay, great.

Oh not to mention the alley way was dark. Mikey was use to the streets being lined with lights and people. But as Mikey layed on the ground all he could think about was how dreary everything looked. Granted he could only really lay on his back and look up but everything just felt off. There where no vibrant lights nor people chatter. It was dead silent except the occasional car passing by. 

How long has Mikey been here again?

Maybe he was in Jersey? That would explain the melancholy atmosphere. Also why his brothers where taking so long to find him, with Donnie trackers they should find him in no time!

Right?

They wouldn't just leave him out here! Like it really shouldn't take them this long? Maybe hes just being paranoid! They would be here any second! Unless something happened to them on there way here? That's a possibility. Like they were attacked and taking care of the the attacker! Yeah that's probably what happened. There was no reason to freak out just yet.

Unless they got hurt trying to find him making it his fault they got hurt.

As Mikey tries to not spiral. He can faintly hear foots steps on the roof near by. His brothers have finally come! Mikey slowly pushes himself up in to a sitting position ignoring the dull throb in the back of his head.

He sits up just in time to see three figures set down at the mouth of the alleyway.

The silhouettes didn't look anything like his brothers. For one, none of them where big enough to be Raph. They all seemed to be a similar height expect for on figure that was taller and lankyer than the rest.

"An energy spike came from right here." The tallest said holding some kind of device in their hand.

"Well I don't see any weird krang stuff so this whole mission was a bust. Can we go home now?" The shortest figure complained.

Krang?

Mikey could feel his breathing pick up for a second and the scars on his arm start to burn.

'Deep breaths Mikey' he told himself and quickly got his breathing under control so he could continue to listen in on the strangers.

"Not necessarily, this energy is different than the krangs I haven't seen anything like it!" The tallest amused as they continued to press the buttons on their device.

The medium height didn't say anything. Deep in thought tilting there head to look at the roof.

"Hey isn't this the area Mikey was suppose to be watching?" The medium finally said.

Mikey breathing hitched. Did they know someone else named Mikey? How common was that name exactly?

"Yeah so?" The short one commented.

"So? Don't you think we should have seen him on our way over?" The medium responded.

"Leo relax Mikey probably just got distracted by something I'm sure hes just fine." The tall figure said as they continued to push away at there device.

The medium figure didn't look convinced turning his head to look deeper in to the alleyway. Mikey as quietly as he could tried to pull himself backwards to make sure the figure could not see him. Something about the way the medium figure scanned around made Mikey feel nervous.

Unfortunately for Mikey just as he was making his way slowly backwards he bumped in to an unseen trash can.

Shit.

Immediately the two other figures snapped there heads towards where Mikey resided.

Fucking shit.

Slowly the medium figure made there way to the back of the alleyway swords, that Mikey had not previously noticed, drawn. Mikey held his breath. Their head, already injured, pounding from banging in to the trash can. He couldn't think of a way out. He closed his eyes hoping that the white eyed figure would take mercy on him.

"Mikey?" The figure in front of him said. The sound of of his swords being sheathed could be heard. As two sets of foot steps came down the alleyway.

What?

"What the hell are you doing just sitting in an alleyway and eavesdropping come on move your shell and let's go home." The short figure said.

Mikey, still with his eyes closed, shook his head.

"No." Mikey replied. Dad taught them to never go anywhere with strangers and Mikey was gonna follow that rule so help him.

"What do you mean no?" The short one questioned.

"I don't know who you are." Mikey replied holding back the urge to cry.

"Mikey we're your brothers of course you know who we are!" The tall one said his voice rising in pitch at the end of his phrase.

Mikey finally got the courage to open his eyes he was met with three turtle yokai. The tallest wore a purple bandana and was still holding the device he saw earlier. The medium one wore a blue bandanna and stared at Mikey with matching blue eyes. The shortest had a red bandanna with their arms crossed over their chest in clear frustration.

They all looked like cheap knockoffs of his own brothers. Wannabes. It hit Mikey that this could very easily be a way for one of there villains trying to manipulate Mikey in to coming with them! Fear started to build inside Mikey at the revelation as he looked directly at the imposters.

"You are not my brothers." Mikey attempted to shout out but ended up sounding closer to a whimper.

"What the hell do you mean where not your brothers! Mikey what kinda bullshit is that!" Imposter Raph growled out aggressively, their seemd to be an extra layer of hurt under the words.

"Mikey I can assure you we are your brothers." Knock off Leo said taking a step forward towards Mikey. Assuming a similar tone someone might take when trying to tame a wild animal.

Mikey pulled himself further back into the garbage cans even as the pain in his head started to increase.

Imposter Donnie put a hand on Leo shoulder and pointed to right near Mikey shoulder.

Impsoter Leo eyes widened as he turned back to Donnie. Imposter Raph seemed to also notice what ever was happening on Mikey shoulder that everyone but Mikey seemed to know about.

"Shit." Imposter Raph said voice noticeably calmer.

"Shit is right." Imposter Donnie said. "He could be suffering some sort of brain damage or amnesia."

"What's the best thing to do Donnie?" Imposter Leo asked.

Imposter Donnie thought for a second before replying.

"We need to get him to the lair as quick as possible with as little struggle as possible. He clearly doesn't recognize us so we have to get him to come with us peacefully." Donnie stated.

"And what happens if he doesn't come with us peacefully?" Imposter Raph asked.

"Well I have a sedative it would put someone to sleep like that." He snaps his fingers to demonstrate his point. "But it would be better to keep him awake until we know the extent of his injuries." Imposter Donnie finished.

Like hell if Mikey was gonna let himself be drugged by some fakes of his family! He quickly pulled himself on to his feet causing him to wobble before he regained him balance. His head felt wishy washy but he could still walk.

The other turtles seem to notice his attempts of an escape cause they immediately started to crowd him, urging him to sit and think for a second. He didn't listen he kept trudging along and ignoring them as the pain in his head became worse. Until he had almost reached the exit of the alley.

When he felt arms lock around his own and drag him backwards. He wasn't about to go down without some kind of fight.

Mikey screamed and kicked wildly at the figure behind him scratching at whatever skin he could get his hands on. He felt another person try to restrain his legs. He reached for the face of the person in front of him in a attempt to scratch them. But his struggle was useless as he felt his legs be held down and than the upper part of his body be pushed with it.

He felt his head smash back down on to the pavement that made him cry in agony, tears rolled down his face. He could hear someone say something along the lines of 'be careful with his head', followed by a 'hold him steady'. As his struggle contuined he could feel something sharp prick his neck. He cried out for his real brothers to come and help him and fix all of this before losing consciousness.

Chapter Text

Leo

When Leo became leader there were many things he didn't know he would have to face.

Fighting aliens, taking down the Shredder, sacrificing himself for humanity, making possibly death causing choices for his family.

Drugging your own little brother as he screamed and cried.

Somehow that was one of the wrost.

Leo sat on the ground of the alleyway trying to catch his breath as he stared at his youngest brother limp body.

His brothers did the same. No one spoke they just all sat there staring in disbelief at the struggle that took place.

Mikey had attacked them. Blindly. Hell he almost scratched out Leo eye in the fit. Screaming about he wants his real brothers.

Not them.

Raph ended being the first to move he picked up Mikey, cradling him. No one spoke. The whole thing kinda reminded Leo when they were kids, when one would fall asleep and the rest of them would try to lug them back to there room.

This was a lot different.

Donnie was the next to move standing near Raph to look at Mikey head wound from earlier.

Leo watched them trying to wrap his head around the situation. His brother had not remembered who they were, or at the very least not recognized them. Since he seemed to still know that he had brothers just not them. Attacking them when they had tried to take him back home.

Slowly Leo was able to will himself to stand and join his brothers.

"Hows he look Donnie?" Leo asked. Donnie turned to him and grimaced.

"Not good. The injury is pretty bad. Definitely a concussion, maybe some permanent damage." Donnie said.

"Oh so well barely be able to tell the difference." Raph joked. Leo rolled his eyes at the comment.

"Raph this is seriously not the time." Leo scolded.

"Theres a bit more." Donnie continued. "Some minor bruising, sprained ankle, broken wrist, dislocated shoulder. But that's all minor compare to his head. If I had to guess he mostly likey fell a few stories." Donnie finished.

None them had any comment, after that. Nothing else could be done in the alleyway so the only option is to head home.

When they finally got to the liar Leo was ready to lay down and never get up. Today had drained him emotionally and physically but mostly emotionally.

The turtles stumbled in to the liar where there seemed to be no one in the main area. Until Splinter entered from the dojo.

"My sons what took so long?" The rat asked before noticing Mikey in Raph arms.

"Is Michaelangelo okay?." Splinter asked moving closer to where they stood.

"Hard to say." Donnie interjected. "He seems to be suffering from some form of amnesia and tried to attack us earlier."

Splinter hummed at the responses.

"I see Raphael take your brother to Donatello lab. Donatello look over your brothers injuries again. Leonardo come with me and tell me extacly what happened." Splinter finished.

"Yes sensei." All the turtles replied before doing their assigned tasks.

Leo followed Splinter in to the dojo where they both sat cross legged and parrel from one another. Splinter sipped at a cup of tea he had left when he rushed out to greet his sons.

"So." Splinter started. "What happened."

Leo began to explain the events of the night. From where when they had gotten weird electric readings from a warehouse and told Mikey to stand watch. The warehouse ended up being a total bust so they decided to sweep the area for any more activity. They had eventually tracked another electrical signal to the spot they left Mikey where they found him disoriented and bleeding from his head. He went in to detail all the things Mikey had screamed and his escape attempt. Along with having to drug him just to get him home.

Splinter listened closely not inrupting his son and slowly sipping his tea. When Leo had finished Splinter placed his tea down.

"It seems that you have all had a rough night. You should get some rest." Splinter urged.

"But sensei what if-" Leo started but soon was interrupted by Splinter.

"You and your brothers have had a long night. I will be telling Raphael and Donatello to do the same once they are finished helping Michelangelo." Splinter concluded, standing up and exiting the dojo.

Leaving Leo only one option to go to his room and rest.

Donnie

Donnie was not having a good night.

Which was kinda a given after having there mission be a bust and than coming back to find his brother hysterical to the point of needing to drug him.

Not one of his better days.

Raph carefully put Mikey on an examination table as Donnie started to gather necessary items. Donnie biggest concern was the head injury. Everything else could be fixed later but this wound seemed bad. There definitely had to be some sort of deep damage if he didn't know who his own brothers where.

Once Donnie had finished getting everything he needed he returned to the examination table. Raph sat near by trying seem disinterested when reality he was most likey panicking as much as Donnie and Leo.

Donnie got to work slowly moving head up to see the wound. The bleeding mostly slowed by now but that didn't really mean much when it came to head wounds. Donnie inhaled sharply when he saw the extent of the damage. Carefully he moved Mikey in to a position where it would be easier to work on his head.

First he started with an x-ray. Donnie x- ray machine was old and a bit rickety but it did its job. Thankfully there was no skull fracture. Which was a great for Donnie. He than started to gently clean the wound. He didn't want to agitate more than it already had been from the drugging incident. Than he made sure to wrap bandages around his whole head just tight know to stay but not constrict.

Raph stayed near one of the walls watching Donnie work. He didn't say anything during the whole process. Only sat and watch. Donnie would not be lying if it stressed him out just a bit.

When Donnie had finished work on his head. He moved to Mikeys wrist to fix the break. He started by unwrapping the wraps all of them wore around his wrist that's when he saw something that made his stomach sink.

"Raph?" He called out feeling the concern leak in to his voice.

Raph came over before Donnie knew it. His eyes landing on Mikey now exposed arms. Raph breath hitched for just a second.

"Did you have any idea about these" Donnie asked.

"Hell no. What the fuck." Raph responded, newfound anger and panic seeping in to his voice.

On Mikey arms where long jagged scars. They ran all the way from his elbow to the end of his fingers. The scars looked similar to electrical burn scars. They where ugly and look like they where deep. Some parts it seemed as if he lost chunks of skin.

Donnie had no idea how long he was in shock until Raph spoke up.

"What do you think happened?" Raph asked uncharacteristically calm.

"Hard to say theres a good chance there some kind of burns most likey electrical. There also have to be at least a month old." Donnie analyzed as he was snapped out of his trance and started to work on Mikey wrist. Rewrapping so the wrist was properly set.

Raph hummed in acknowledgement.

"So should we tell Master Splinter and good old fearless or is this going to be a secret until we can get the full story?" Raph questioned.

"What will be kept a secret?" Spilnter said appearing out of nowhere near Raph.

"Sensei!" Donnie screeched as he had finished wrapping Mikey hand. "Nothing absolutely nothing is a secret!" Donnie quickly defended.

Splinter raised an eyebrow at his tallest son strange behavior but quickly let it go.

"Very well. I have just come to see if Michaelangelo is okay." Splinter said.

Donnie breathed a sigh of relief. While he had no problem telling Splinter about the scar it may not be the smartest decision. Mostly for the fact that there was a good chance Mikey had no idea where the scars came from, courtesy of his amnesia. And trying to get the truth may cause more stress to his healing head.

"Mikey doing better just some minor injuries!!"

For now this was the best option.

Even if Raph was glaring at him from behind Splinter.

Everything in the room was tense. Splinter probably knew he was lying and Raph definitely knew he was lying. Donnie could feel both of there eyes on him. Boring in to him. They both knew he was lying straight through his gaped tooth.

Mikey groaned which, thankfully, took all the attention away from Donnie. Splinter and Raph gathered around the table as Mikey slowly opened his eyes.

"What-" Mikey started before getting a good look at everyone and jolting up.

"Who are you." He screamed. He looked absolutely terrified as his gaze travel around the table.

"My son please calm yourself." Splinter stated resting a hand on Mikey shoulder. Unfortunately that was the dislocated one which caused Mikey to hiss in pain.

"Don't touch me!" He shrieked as he slapped away Splinter hand away. The movement seemed to shock the old rat who quickly gained his composure.

"Michaelangelo, I know this all must be very confusing to you but we are here for you." Splinter stated once again moving closer to Mikey. It was at that moment that Donnie realized something.

Mikey was hiding something behind his back.

"But we are here for you. We are your family." Splinter continued. On closer inspection on Donnie part he realized that one of the scalpels he had near Mikey bed was missing. The whole thing clicked all at once in Donnie head.

"You are not my family." Mikey screeched before raising up the scalpel lunging for Splinter.

Chapter Text

Mikey really don't know what he was expecting to happen.

I mean attacking the imposter with the first weapon he got seemed great!

Until he did it.

Mikey lunged at the imposter rat. Aiming for his shoulder but he quickly felt a hand wrap a around his wrist and pull him back on to the bed.

"Damit Mikey what the hell is wrong with you." Imposter Raph yelled as held Mikey down.

"Hold him still I can reinstate the drugs." Inposter Donnie said. Mikey could feel panic start to rise as he struggled and shoutedto be let go.

Quickly he felt someone else holding him down, most likely imposter Splinter. Mikey kicking and screaming became more frantic. Yelling random obscenities at the fakers. They should have been glad he had been completely drained on mystic energy from earlier or else they would have probably been thrown right off of him.

Ever since the portal incident his powers have been completely haywire. Going off with high emotions. It was usually a huge annoyance to Mikey. But right now?

He was really missing it.

Mikey soon felt the same pressure of the needle being stuck back in to his neck. He hissed in pain as his awareness slowly started to fade.

"Hmmm this is worse than I thought. One of you should stay and make sure hes alright when he wakes." Imposter Splinter said.

There was a sigh. "I guess I can stay with him but I'm seriously not happy about it." Imposter Raph said. And that was the last thing Mikey heard before passing out.

Mikey came to slowly. He could feel the drug induced sleep slowly wearing away. His arms and legs felt heavy. He tried to move them but quickly found he couldn't.

Great they strapped down to the table. Thats what he gets for attacking them. Twice

He opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling. Mikey really couldn't tell if anyone else was in the room.

"Hello?" He called out but his voice was ragged, sounding as if he had a bad cough. Probably from all the screaming he did earlier.

He heard someone shuffling around before he saw imposter Raph come in to view.

"Can you let me go?" Mikey questioned. Raph snorted.

"Your seriously asking that after you almost took out Splinter eye?" Raph responded. Mikey had to resist the urge to roll his eyes and spit at the imposter.

"If I promise not to attack you will let me go?" Mikey asked which got a laugh from imposter Raph.

"Damn you must really have some brain damage if you think I'm gonna do that." Raph continued to laugh.

Mikey sighed "I really do promise not to attack you if you just let me go." Mikey bargained. Raph raised the equivalent of an eyebrow.

"How do I know for sure your not gonna attack us again?" Raph asked.  Now that Mikey was really looking at this imposter Raph something looked....familiar. Like he has seen him before.

"You were able to restrain me before I'm sure you could do it again. Plus I doubt anyone else has left the general area." Mikey countered. It was starting to bug Mikey that he couldn't place where he has seen this imposter Raph before. Because it definitely wasn't a resemblance to his own Raph. His Raph was like three times bigger than this guy.

Raph thought for a second. Mikey heard a click before feeling the restraints around his arms disappear. He sat up to see the restraints around his legs were still in a effect.

Great.

He sighed and looked back at imposter Raph. He was really started to look familiar to Mikey.

"So amnesia? Must nice and fun forgetting everything not like there was much in your head anyways." Raph said. Mikey stared at him. This guy looked like and acted nothing like his Raph but something still was recognizable.....

Wait.

Holy shit.

It clicked in Mikey head all at once.

These were the same guys on Donnie conspiracy board.

And they must think he was there Mikey.

Mikey didn't respond to Raphs comment still reeling over his realization that Donnie dimensional theory was true.

Raph tsked when he got responses. He moved to sit on the table Mikey was still restrained to.

"Okay I'm just gonna cut to the chase since Donnie won't for some reason. What's up with the scars on your arm." Raph asked. But Mikey didn't respond. Still caught up in his head.

When he eventually did all he could think about is how he was gonna get out of this. He has no idea how they would react if they found out he wasn't there Mikey and was a faker. They may turn hostile. Leaving Mikey stranded in an unusual dimension.

Alone.

Mikey would than never find a way home. Mikey mystic abilities had been drained getting here and there was little  to no mystic energy in this universe. So he would be completely pulling on the internal mystic energy to recharge. Which could take who knows how long.

It had been over a week for his mystic energy to recharge after the invasion. So in a dimension with barely any mystic energy. It could take weeks. Maybe months.

His best option was to play along and get them off his back. And as a younger sibling theres one way to always get your older sibling to leave alone.

Tears.

Quickly Mikey felt them well up in his eyes. They weren't hard to muster being in an alternate universe where everything was completely different and no way home without any family. It made him emotional he just let it all out and used it to his advantage.

"I don't know." He sobbed. "Everything is so confusing and nothing is how I remember it." He continued to wail.

Raph seemed shocked for a second before recovering. He planted a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey don't worry about it. I'm sure Donnie will figure it all out and you'll be back to your old self in no time." Raph promised. While this comfort was technically not made for Mikey it still warmed his heart and reminded him of his own Raph.

"I'm gonna go get Donnie and see what he says about letting you out of here." Raph said before patting Mikey once more on the shoulder and walking out.

Mikey sighed and wiped the remaining tears away. A great performance that was a lot more real than he was expecting. He sighed.

This is going to take a long time.

Donnie had came in and gave Mikey the okay to go back to his room. Mikey was thankful to finally have a moment to himself. Donnie led him to what was apparently his alternate version of him room and well it certainly was... a room.

Now don't get Mikey wrong he is not the cleanest person out there. But his messes were more like organized messes. Not this.

There where pizza boxes everywhere. Some fast food cups decorated the furniture. An overfilled trash bag filled with who knows what.

Mikey could deal with messes hell his room at home was a mess. But it was a mess of unfinished art projects and supplies he forgot to put away. Not half finished food and literal filth.

He sighed and turned around and walked in to the kitchen to look for some garbage bags. Sorry to his counterpart but he was not living like this while hes stuck here.

He eventually found some trash bags and got to work piling stuff in to them.  It took him trash bag after trash bag to sort through it all.

But it's not like Mikey had anything better to do.

Chapter Text

Leo woke up to noise.

Now it wasn't unusual for Leo to wake up to noise. But it usually was yelling from his brothers. But this was different. It was more like a shuffling. Someone carrying something heavy from one place to another over and over again.

Leo groaned and sat up. He really didn't want to go out but he should see if his brothers needed his help with whatever they were doing.

Leo left his room to a very rare sight. There in the middle of the kitchen where a bunch of trash bags and Mikey bringing out another to join them.

Leo stared at the other in shock. He has never seen his brother clean this much. And when he did it was usually Leo forcing him to.

"Hey Mikey...what you doing." Leo asked. Mikey stopped in his tracks.

"Uh cleaning?" Mikey responded. Leo nodded.

"Okay but why?"

"Uh cause it was dirty and gross? Theres garbage everywhere! It was borderline unlivable." He said with a small laugh at the end. Mikey than put down his current trash bag and went back to his room to clean more.

To say Leo was amazed was an understatement. He had never seen Mikey complain about something like this before. Sure occasionally the mess would get even to much for him and he'd clean but not with this much...gusto.

It baffled Leo that he kinda just sat there until Donnie and Raph walked in.

"What's with all the trash bags?" Raph asked as kicked one out of his way.

"Mikey is...cleaning?" Leo said dazed the thought still rolling around his head.

Both Donnie and Raph eyes got wide.

"You're joking right?" Donnie asked. Leo shook his head.

Mikey came out with another load of trash bags and placed them with the rest.

"Hey great timing! Could you guys please help me bring these up to a dumpster later? If you have time of course!" Mikey smiled at them. Now Donnie and Raph were just as baffled as Leo.

"Um sure....yeah but uh we have training soon so maybe later." Donnie said confusion creeping in to his voice.

Mikey hummed in acknowledgement "Alright! See you than!" He said before skipping back to his room leaving the three turtles to soak in what just happened.

"That was weird right?" Leo asked first.

"Uh yeah really weird. Like uncanny valley type weird." Raph responded.

Donnie sighed. "He has amnesia and brain damage hes not going to be the exact same as he was for awhile. All things considered this is pretty close to how he was. We should be lucky he didn't stay in his feral state the entire healing process." Donnie said.

The other two turtles nodded. There was no denying that Mikey was still close to himself just it seemed kinda off. Like he was Mikey doing a really shitty Mikey impression. Sure this is Leo first real interaction with Mikey new state but still. It threw him for a total loop.

It would just take some time and Mikey would exactly like he used to. No uncanny valley feeling soon.

Yeah.

All over soon.

Mikey

Mikey slammed the door to his 'room'. That was awkward to say the least. They didn't seem entirely responsive to Mikey suggestions more in just pure shock.

He sighed and looked at what was left in the room. Most of the trash was gone at this point and Mikey could see what was actually what the room looked like.

Posters of various movies and video games Mikey never heard of lined the walls. Occasionally he would see a name that would remind him of something in his world. Their were no Lou Jitsu or Jupiter Jim posters which was slightly disappointing but what can you do.

Mikey walked towards the bed and sat on it. It wasn't uncomfortable to say it just didn't compare to his usual hammock. He would most likey replace the sheets once he located where they were stored. No offense to his other self but he has no idea where he has been.

Speaking on his other self he wondered were he was now. He would probably be in his dimensions with his brothers. Mikey sighed, god he missed them. It was the first moment he had since he got here to really think about how much he missed them. This was probably the longest he has been away from them and definitely the farthest.

He really wanted to get home but with his lack of mystic energy at the moment it would be hard. He had slowly started to gain some back but far from enough to open a portal. Plus his head was still injured and wouldn't be healing anytime soon.

Unless......

Him and Draxum had been working on some mystic spells since the invasion. Nothing to hard yet just the basic that most yokai knew. One of these spells was a healing spell often taught to children so they can heal themselves if they get any sort of scraps or bruises. Not usually for anything bigger.

But.

Mikey held his hand up the the back of his head where his wound was. He lightly brushed the bandages this Donnie wrapped around his head. But he did not put his hand fully on the injury in fear of making it worse but it was good enough. Mikey closed his eyes and let the mystic energy pour through him.

It hurt but not in a bad way. Like a tingly way, as if he was losing feeling in it. The use of the mystic energy made Mikey feel light and peaceful like nothing else mattered. He could feel himself slowly losing himself to it. Letting the soft fluffy feeling of the spell being used bring him down. It was relaxing but also draining.

He would have probably kept going if it wasn't for the knock at the door. He quickly stopped the spell and gasped at the lost of the fluffy feeling.

"Come in." He croaked out.

His door opened to reveal Splinter in the doorway. He looked around surprised before his eyes found Mikey on the bed.

"Michaelangelo I see you cleaned your room." Splinter said. Mikey smiled up at him.

"Yep! It was getting a bit much in here." He replied to the rat. Splinter hummed.

"Yes I am glad you are being more responsible. On that note training in 15 minutes you are not allowed  to participate but you are still required to watch. Do you understand." Mikey nodded slowly.

"Yes I do thank you for letting me know." He smiled at the rat one more time before he closed the door.

Mikey rested his head in his hands. Okay great. He just wasted a good chunk of the little mystic energy he had on healing himself. Perfect.

He raised his head. He should probably go to the training session early and wait. It's not like he had anything to do in other hims room except miss his brothers and waste his mystic energy.

He wondered around the lair for a few minutes before finding what he assumed was the training room. It was a large dojo that definitely did not fit in the sewers. The entrie thing was beautifully decorated and with a massive tree growing in it.

Mikey was to only one in the room. So he sat on the floor before taking a few deep breath. Their was never a place like this in his liar. Even in the old one, sure they had a work out room were they trained but nothing like this. The whole room was calming and broke up the grossness of the rest of these turtles home.

Mikey with a new calming, clean environment found himself relaxing. This place was nice. It would be a good place to meditate. Which honestly he never really did that much, until he discovered his mystic powers post portal. He would often have his powers randomly go haywire. Mediation usually calmed him down and kept the fritz at bay. It had slowly became part of something Mikey did on a regular basis.

He let himself breath in out. Letting his mind slow down and take everything in. Slowly calmed himself and his body.

He would be home in no time.

He just had to wait.

Chapter Text

Donnie had a very unpleasant 24 hours. That just left him feeling weird.

Training, he was hoped, would break up that weird feeling he had.

He was wrong.

Because as soon as Donnie walked in to the dojo for their scheduled training he found Mikey meditating in the middle of the floor.

"Uh Mikey what are you doing?" He called out to him.

"Meditating? I feel like it was kinda obvious." Mikey responded not opening his eyes.

Donnie didn't have the mental energy to deal with this at the moment so he just sat next to Mikey and waited for the others to arrive.

When Raph and Leo entered they both had similar reaction to Mikey meditation to Donnies own.

"Ayo Mikey what are you doing." Raph asked.

Mikey hummed before answering. "Meditating"

"Well I'm glad to see your finally taking intrest in meditation..... I think." Leo said taking a seat next to Donnie.

Raph grumbled something before sitting next to Mikey. When Splinter arrived he had a confused look on his face before  quickly morphing in to his usual resting expression.

"Ah Michaelangelo I see your finally taking an intrest in meditation. I am glad." Splinter said.

Mikey smiled stopping his meditation and opening his eyes.

"Now let's us begin." Splinter commanded.

The actual training wasn't super bad, pretty light actually. Splinter might have wanted to give them a bit of a break after last night.

Until they finally got to sparring.

"Raphael and Donatello will fight and who ever wins will fight Leonardo." Splinter declared as he sat next Mikey who was watching intensely.

Donnie mentally sighed. He really did not want to get the living shit beat out of him at the moment. But there really wasn't much he could do.

"Alright Donnie as pre established drop the staff no one has to get hurt." Raph said as they circled eachother.

Donnie rolled his eyes. "Do you know how many times you have said that and I still end up getting hurt?."

Raph smiled smugly. "But you never know this time it might be different."

Donnie didn't listen anymore before he swung his staff at Raphs head. Raph dodged before trying to hit him with the handle of his sais. Donnie side stepped before swinging again and slamming down his staff where Raph had just been. Raph had moved to the side before his staff could reach him. Raph than kicked him in the side. Donnie stopped himself from being flung back by driving his staff in the ground and using it to steady himself.

Donnie twirled his staff from its position and charged at Raph with it. Raph grabbed the end being of it when it came close, using the momentum to fling Donnie around. This move ended with Donnie stumbling to the ground flat on his shell and his staff in Raphs hand.

He looked up to see Raph victoriously holding his bo staff. Smirking at Donnie as he started to get up.

"You know Donnie boy I think I'm gonna let you off just this once." Raph said before throwing the staff back at Donnie. The unanticipated force knocked him back on to the ground.

He huffed. Just another day of training.

"Good job Dee!" He heard Mikey call out from the sides. Donnie mentally groaned.

"Mikey you don't need to patronize me." Donnie said as he pushed himself back on his feet. Mikey gave him a confused look.

"But I'm not trying to? I just wanted to encourage you?" Mikey said slightly tilting his head.

Donnie rolled his eyes but quickly tried to let his frustration go. "Thanks." He said as he took seat next to Mikey. Who gave him a big smile and a hug.

Leo and Raph fought next which ended in a draw surprisingly. Usually one or the other would win depending on the day. But today it ended with both of them giving in. And just like Mikey did with Donnie he was congratulated them excitedly.

At first they were both confused but quickly accepted the praise on there fighting skills.

After his brothers and him finished tidying the dojo they all left. Mikey was the first to leave going straight to his room. Leo and Raph also both left for there own room not long after.

Leaving Donnie.

Donnie sighed. With very little to do he headed to his lab so he could work.

Mikey

Mikey sighed to himself as the variants of his brothers all went there separate ways after the training session. He really didn't feel in the mood to converse with these versions of his brothers at the moment. Sure they were all pretty nice to him but he just couldn't be around them without thinking of his own family which made him all teary eyed. Which was totally suspicious.

So Mikey decided to distract himself in a old time hobby that has never failed him.

Cooking.

He made his way to the kitchen. Where all the trash bags still sat from Mikey earlier cleaning frenzy. Mikey started by looking in the cupboards. Nothing. Than he decided to move to the fridge. Almost nothing, just left over pizza  and some expired condiments. Mikey sighed to himself.

What where these versions of him living on? Alge?. Mikey shivered at the thought.

Mikeys heart ached for these turtles. They seemed to have no nutritional food that suited there intense work outs.

So Mikey decided to do the thing his brothers taught him long ago. The thing that got them by before Donnie learned to hack in to ATMs. Or they had found a way to hack back in to dads old Lou Jitsu bank accounts.

Stealing.

Getting out of the lair was easy enough. Along with pushing away the sewer cover and crawling out.

The hard part came when he had to actually find a store.

Thankfully it was night out so Mikey could move about without being seen. But this New York was so barren that Mikey really doesn't think it would matter if he went out day or night.

Mikey started wandering around the empty streets. He didn't think his head was in good enough shape to run roof to roof but it was good enough to walk around the streets New York.

He had eventually found a closed department store. It seemed to be several floors tall. Having everything anyone could need clothes, food, games, books all that jazz.

Usually Mikey would Spiderman his way in from the top. But at the current state his head was in he didn't think that would be the greatest idea. So instead he snuck around the back. Where there was a locked door. Mikey for a moment considered using his mystic abilities to break down the door and then restore it after on his way out. But he soon came to the conclusion that picking the lock would be just fine and would waste less mystic energy.

Donnie had taught him how to pick a lock a long ago. Don often took Mikey on his trips to steal stuff from certain facilities in the area. So Don taught him all he knew about stealing.

When Mikey finally got the lock undone he found himself in the clothing section. He checked around to see if all the employees had left. when he saw no one he walked in. As he sauntered in he came across the hoodie racks. He grabbed the first large orange hoodie spotted. Putting it on as soon as he got it off the hanger. He missed the one he had at home. Often it being a source of comfort for him.

Having something similar would probably make his time here just a bit more bearable.

Mikey made his way out of the clothing section. Moving first to the camping aisle. Where he went straight for the giant backpacks. He didn't bring anything to carry all his groceries in so taking a backpack from this section was his best option.

He found the biggest back pack there with enough pockets for all the stuff Mikey may need. And with his makeshift grocey bag Mikey could finally start shopping.

When Mikey had finished he his bag was almost full. He had mostly just grabbed  basics for cooking. Eggs, butter and milk. Some fresh meat and vegetables. Some premade cookies. Pasta, spices, a pot or pan or two. Some cleaning supplies.

Just all the stuff you would need to make quick simple and balanced meals.

On Mikey way out he noticed the art section. That artist urge bubbing up inside of him. Mikey really didn't want to steal more than what he needed. But it could be really good for Mikey mental health to have an outlet for his feelings.

So he grabbed a sketch book and the cheapest paints they had. Mikey was on his way out when the spray paints taught his eye. He really shouldn't take more than what was needed he told himself. But spray painting was his main way of getting his emotions out.

And with being in such unfamiliar scary place, he had a lot of emotions.

Mikey grabbed them and shoved them in to the side pouches of his bag. Than just as quickly he came, he left. Back to the sewers with the abnormal versions of his brothers.

Chapter Text

Honest to god Raph did not know how to feel about the Mikey incident.

At first he didn't worry him to much. Until they had to drug him a second time around. It didn't really strike him until that moment that something was wrong with his brother.

Than when Mikey woke up he acted all strange. Kinda like himself but also not?

It just felt off.

Nothing was right. Raph understands that Mikeys not gonna be himself for awhile. But jeez did it bug him.

But right now he had other things to worry about like...

Telling April and Casey.

He had drawn the short end of the stick and was chosen  to tell the two what happened. The situation was a bit complicated so Raph just texted "there is a situation come over now." And nothing else. Which wasn't his best idea but whatever. It was a Friday anyway. They could both afford to come over in the middle of the night. So he just sat on the couch and waited.

Casey was the first to arrive sprinting in like a maniac. "Is everything okay?" He asked jumping over the couch and sitting on it.

"Mikey was injured." Raph said.

"Is he okay?" Casey asked.

"No he was injured." Raph responded camly.

"Okay I got that but details?"

Raph rolled his eyes. "How about we wait till April gets here."

Casey huffed and sunk back on to the couch.

About five minutes later April also sprinted in quite similar to how Casey did but stopped once she got to the couch.

"Raph! I got your text what happened?" She exclaimed.

"Mikey got injured."

"Oh my God is he okay!"

"No he got injured."

She sighed before sitting on the couch between Casey and Raph.

"Okay could you please now tell us what was the point of your cryptic text at like 1 in the morning? I was about to bust this guy breaking in to a department store!" Casey shouted.

"Yeah and I was working my college essay." April defended.

"You've fought aliens from another planet, found out you are half alien, save the world more than once, went to space. And you are still worried about your college applications." Casey asked.

"Its not really like I can put saving the world on my list of awards and accomplishments. Also what the hell are you going to do? Put vigilanting for your extra cirrcular?" April defended.

"Guys Mikey injured." Raph said really trying not to strangle both of them.

That got both of there attention.

Raph clicked his tongue in frustration. "Alright. Last night we found Mikey in a back alley. He had fallen a few stories when we where checking out a warehouse and he was look out. When we returned he had hit his head on the ground and had some petty serious brain damage. Like full on feral. He almost took out Leos eye. Hes calmed down now but Donnie says he has some form of amnesia." Raph finished.

"What kind of amnesia?" April asked.

"Well he didn't recognize us as his brothers but he knew he had brothers. They just weren't us in his head I guess?." Honestly it didn't make much sense to Raph.

"That seems....complicated." April responded.

"Wait does he remember us?" Casey asked.

"We haven't asked him yet." Raph said.

"Ask me what?"

The group on the couch all quickly turned to see Mikey standing there in a orange hoodie and a backpack.

"Hey Mikey where did you get that hoodie and bag." Casey asked.

"Don't worry about." He replied shortly.

"How are you feeling?" April questioned, ignoring Mikey avoidance of the question.

"Okay? Um Raph can you help me with the trash from my room tomorrow?"

"Sure bud. But do you recognize these guys?" Raph pointed to April and Casey.

Mikey stared at them for a long minute but his eyes showed no signs of recognition.

"Sorry I don't know who you are." He said in defeat.

"No worries man no one can forget the great Caset Jones for long!" Casey shouted.

"But they wish they could" April mumbled.

Mikey gave him a weird look.

"Are you from the future?" He said suddenly.

"No?"

"Use to be part of the foot clan?"

"What? No! Why would I be part those jack asses!" Casey yelled.

Mikey shrugged and gave no further explanation. This was truly baffling to Raph. The foot clan? The future? Where the hell was that coming from.

"Well I'm April o'Neil! I know this must be confusing-" She was cut off by Mikey.

"No you're not."

Nothing.

"Sorry you just don't look how I remember you." Mikey quickly says.

April slowly nods. "Hey that's fine! I'm just glad your okay."

Mikey awkwardly smiled back before rushing off to his room. As the trio watched him in silence.

"So...that was weird? Right?" Casey was the first to break the quiet.

"Yeah like really weird. I know he has amnesia but are you sure hes okay? I can take a look in his mind" Raph cut April off right there.

"No. Not yet anyway. His damage is not just physiologic but physical. And I don't trust your weird krang mind powers with that stuff." Raph huffed.

April seemed annoyed but quickly deflated. "Fine but if it ever becomes worse let me know and I'll help."

"Yeah reds got ya." Casey said throwing an arm around April that she quickly threw off.

Raph gritted his teeth. "Fine but not until I and my brothers give the go ahead." April nodded at Raphs restriction.

"Welp I don't feel like walking back home so can we stay the night?" Casey asked.

"We?" April raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well yeah? Splinter wants us here early tomorrow anyway so what's the point of going through the hassle of walking home and coming back! Come on red it will be fun!"

April thought for a moment. "Fine whatever."

Casey grinned wide at her.

"And you guys barely gonna check with the guy who actually lives here? Fine okay whatever. Have fun bugging Master Splinter on where you can sleep" Raph got up and left his two friends to their own devices.

Mikey

Jesus christ that was awkward.

Mikey ran back in to his room. He had already put all of his groceries away without the those on the couch noticing. He had not really payed attention to what they were talking about just that it was about him and how weird he was acting.

Mikey sighed to himself as he placed his now empty backpack on the ground. Keeping his cover was much harder than anticipated. He doesn't know what hes doing wrong that makes it so clear that he was not their Mikey.

Mikey crawled in to the other hims bed. He still hadn't found where they kept sheets nor where they kept there washing machine. Although judging by the state of the lair it was safe to assume they didn't have one.

Mikey layed down in the unfamiliar bed. This room was much colder than his own room at home. It wasn't impossible to sleep in but still not what he was used.

Which made him feel all the more bad for these turtles. His lair, well his old lair, had been extremely homey with Donnie figuring out how to build a heating system long ago. Along with the installation that Donnie installed, that made there sewer much more similar to a 'normal' house.

These turtles don't seem to have that privilege. Be it time or resources preventing them from investing in these sorta luxuries it still made Mikey upset.

So as Mikey drifted to sleep he decided that tomorrow he would do something nice for these turtles.

Make them breakfast!

It was the least he could do after posing as there sibling and staying in there home.

Mikey woke up early the next morning. Or at least he thought it was early. He didn't have anyway of telling the time. But since no had woken up yet he assumed that it was still quite early.

He made his way to the kitchen as silently as he could. No one was in the main area nor near the kitchen but Mikey didn't want to risk waking anyone up after all they have unknowingly done for him.

He took one of the pans he had stolen the night before. Along with the eggs. He didn't know what this version of his family liked in terms of food. So he would just go with a safe easy breakfast and make them eggs with toast.

Basic and pretty universally agreed upon.

He got to work buttering the pan and cracking the eggs. He fryed them and as they cooked Mikey moved to place the bread in the toaster. As he went back to the fridge to put the butter back he realized he had picked up some bacon. While he wasn't the hugest fan of bacon he knows a certain almost carnivore brother of his (Donnie) does. So Mikey took if out and began to prepare it as well.

By the time he was done he had enough to feed everyone and some leftovers. He grabbed the only plates that seemed clean. Which happened to be glass. They seemed pretty impractical to Mikey but he sure it will be fine. Mikey set them up at the table and put an equal portion on each of them.

He grabbed some of the coffee he had stole the night before and started to prepare it the way his Donnie had taught him. When he was just about done his first house host entered.

"Good morning Leo!" Mikey cheerful yelled as a tired looking Leo entered.

"Mikey what are you doing up?" He asked.

"Making breakfast?"

"Is that really the greatest idea with your injury?" He asked as he sat down.

"Its cooking breakfast not running marathon I think I'll be fine." He responded as he finished making the coffee and held it until his intended target could come to collect it.

Leo nodded before looking down at his breakfast. "How did you get all this stuff?" Leo asked.

"Don't worry about." Mikey responded.

Leo shrugged before starting to eat. His face morphed in to something akin to enjoyment. "Mikey did you change what you usually do?"

"No I cooked the same as I always do. Why?"

"Its just that this is really good."

"Is my food usually not really good?"

Leo froze, he looked as if he was a dear in headlights. Lucky for him Donnie chose right than and there to enter.

Mikey smiled and ran up to him holding the coffee up to Donnie. Similarly to child when they make something they are proud of and want to show it off.

"Dee I made you coffee!" Mikey said cheerfully.

Donnie slowly blinked "Mikey no offense but I don't want to try what ever weird concoction you made this time."

"Dee it's a normal coffee." Mikey voice dropped juxtapositioning his just excited tone.

Donnie raised an eyebrow before taking the coffee and sipping it. His faced morphed in to confusion.

"This is normal coffee?" Donnie said dumbfounded.

"Yes I just told you that. I'm glad your taste buds are working." Mikey said clicking his tongue annoyance before turning and sitting at the table with Donnie quickly following.

Both April and Splinter came in at the same time just a few minutes later.

Mikey gave them a warm welcome which they quickly returned.

Raph entered not long after.

"What smells good?" He said stumbling to the table.

"Mikey cooking." Leo replied.

Raph blinked. "Your joking."

"Not one bit."

Raph grumbled and took a seat. Digging in to his food. Despite probably being cold at this point Raph still seemed to be enjoying it.

Casey was the last one to enter. By now everyone besides Raph had finished eating and were just sitting around the table talking.

"So what are we eating." He asked.

"Eggs with toast and bacon." Mikey replied.

"Nice! Thanks Mikes!"

Mikey beamed at the positive reinforcement.

"So Mikey." Donnie started. "Where did you get all this? Our fridge was basically empty."

"Don't worry about it." He said as he started to stand and pick up the others plates along with Donnie empty coffee mug. The plates in one hand and the mug in the other.

Raph narrowed his eyes. "You said the same thing about that orange hoodie you had on last night."

Everyone stopped talking turning their attention on Mikey.

"Orange hoodie?" Leo asked.

Mikey shrugged.

"That is not a real answer Michaelangelo please give me and brothers a proper response. " Splinter asked.

Mikey sighed still holding the dirty dishes. "Fine I went out and stole it. No big deal."

That's when all hell broke loose.

"I'm sorry you what!" Leo screeched.

Donnie scowled. "With your head injury? Do you know how dangerous that is!."

"I knew it!" Raph cackled.

"Woah woah woah you stole? Your like basically like a criminal now!" Casey shouted.

The only people who seem to stay quiet were April and Splinter while the others shouting continued. April gave Mikey a very concerned look that he just shrugged at.

"Boys!" Splinter shouted. "That is quite enough." Everyone stopped talking.

Splinter sighed. "Michelangelo. Do you understand what kinda risk you put you and your brothers in? You were injured. Do you know who could have found you? Shredders men are everywhere and the krang could be around any corner. With that type of injury you may not have been able to defend yourself!"

Krang?

Mikey entire mind shut down. Anything trying to get in was promptly blocked by Mikey head filling with memories of the Krang.

What they did his brothers.

Him trying to open the portal.

His arms aching.

The pain.

His arms were starting to shake.

And hurt.

His hand starting to close around the mug.

Crack.

Before Mikey knew it his hand snapped shut on the mug he had been holding. His other arm was shaking so badly that he dropped the plates. And before he knew it he crashed on to his knees. Shaking sobbing on the cold hard ground. As blood seeped from his hand and shards of glass stabbed in to his legs.

Chapter Text

Mikey was very disoriented.

Mostly because he was pretty sure he was just falling off a building after doing one of his sick acrobatic moves.

But next he knows he was crashing in to some random turtle.

Both of them quickly got up from the floor.

"Who the hell are you!" The new turtle screeched. They wore a blue mask over there eyes that had little red stripes poking out of it.

"Why should I tell you!" Mikey responded.

"Uh cause your in my house!" The red striped turtle shouted.

"Nuh uh we are in a alleyway!" Mikey shouted back.

The red striped turtle gestured around him exasperated. Mikey than noticed that he was not in an alleyway but a well decorated sewer.

"Okay we are not in an alleyway!" Mikey said.

"Yeah no shit." The red striped turtle said. "Now what happened to my brother." The turtle interrogated taking a step forward drawing the swords that Mikey had not previously noticed.

Mikey held up his hands. "Dude chill I don't know where your brother is. But I can help you find him! I'm Michaelangelo. Or just Mikey." Mikey said holding out his hand.

The striped turtle had a look of confusion that quickly morphed in to horror. Before he raised his swords again.

"What did you do with the real Mikey?" He growled out.

"What?"

And before Mikey knew it he was knocked to the ground and losing consciousness.

When Mikey awoke he was on a medical cot. Or at least he thinks it's a medical cot. It wasn't super comfortable but also not super uncomfortable.

So just in the middle of meh.

Miket sat up slowly. His brain felt like mush. He rubbed his head in hopes of soothing the pain when he noticed a turtle with purple markings watching him.

"Ah good. You are awake." The purple turtle said. Mikey blinked at him.

"I am sorry about my brother. He can overreact sometimes. Especially after the invasion." He paused. "I am correct in assuming you are from another dimension, no?"

Mikey slowly blinked again.

"What?"

The purple turtle sighed before walking off and coming back with a giant cork board with various photos pinned to it. He took off one the pictures and came back near Mikey.

"I am guessing that this is you and your brothers." The purple turtle said holding out the photo.

And sure enough it was.

He remembered the day in that photo too. They had been fighting over the last pizza slice and Raph was losing his shit.

Good time.

"How did you get this picture?" He asked the purple turtle.

The purple turtle laughed manically before smiling. "A genius never reveals there secrets. Unless they have a proper trademark of there product. Like I do so I will tell you." He said pulling up a stool and sitting on it.

"I used my oh so well designed interdimensional camera to take pictures of alternate universe versions of me and my brothers. I am this world's version of your Donnie." He held out his hand in an attempt to shake Mikeys.

Mikey stared at his hand. "So you've been stalking us?" Mikey asked.

"I see it more as scientific research."

"Dude you took photos of us without knowing! That like super duper creepy." Mikey stated.

This Donnie rolled his eyes. "Not the point. What is the point is getting you back to your dimension and Angelo back to ours."

Donnie stood up and left the room before returning with what Mikey assumed was this dimensions Leo based on the blue mask.

"Hermano from another mother...and father?" This Leo said awkwardly looked over to Donnie for support. Donnie only signed.

"Just apologize its really not that hard." Donnie said. Leo huffed.

"I'm sorry." He sputtered out.

Mikey gave him a smile. "No worries bruh. I'm sure this Donnie can get me back before my brothers even notice! Let's just go fire up your machine and push me threw."

Both them cringed and shared a look. Donnie nudged Leo. He sighed.

"Yeah about that." He started. "Its just kinda that Donnie wasn't exactly the one that brought you here."

Mikey raised and eyebrow.

Donnie once again sighed. "Our Mikey brought you here. And hes probably the only one who will be able to put you back. Unless...."

He turned towards Leo. "Leo I'm gonna need you. Your powers are the closest to Mikeys and just may be the only functional generator for this."

Leo rubbed his hands together with a smirk on his face. "Oh yeah old Neon Leon got this. Don't worry slightly taller version of Mikey you'll be home as soon as possible."

They both start to rush out but Donnie stops for a moment at the doorway. "I will send Raph to watch you in a minute." Before running after Leo.

Mikey rolled his eyes. Oh goody Raph because he was such a nice comforting presence when someone was hurt. Esspically if that someone was unfamiliar? He would probably be grouchy as hell. Add to the fact hes probably concerned for his missing brother on top of it.

Hes probably gonna be....

Less than friendly.

Mikey groaned to himself and decided until Raph arrived he would at least take a nice long nap.

Mikey woke up slowly tossing and turning in the unfamiliar bed before sitting up. In the corner of the room sat a large terrifying scary mutant. Quietly knitting something Mikey could not make out. The only thing that told Mikey that was most likely Raph and not some Leatherhead variant was the red bandana.

This Raph seemed to notice he was awake and looked up from his knitting. At this moment Mikey realized just how massive this Raph is. And how spikey he was. If his Raph saw him he would probably be in aw at how badass version of him was.

"Oh I'm sorry did I wake you?"

And Leo would be in aw at how nice he was.

"Nope! All me dude!" Mikey smiled. Raph returned it.

"Well I'm glad to hear. Sorry about this mess. Our Mikey powers has kinda been all over lately. I'm just hoping he hasn't hurt himself."

Mikey suddenly remembers how before they switched he had been falling off a building and cringed at the thought. Choosing to focus on something else.

"So I have powers in this dimension! Wicked!"

Raph clicked his tongue. "We all do."

"So cool! So what's my power set? No doubt their awesome!"

Raph giggled slightly. Which felt like the wrong word to describe him but giggle is definitely what he did.

"Well at the moment, time and space, sun related stuff, gravity manipulation, heightened mystical sense, healing, mystic chains and weapon summoning. But we have that. And some other stuff we haven't totally found just yet."

When Raph had finished Mikey sat there in amazement.

"Woah I sound overpowered."

Raph laughed. "You are! You once threw a whole building!"

Mikey gasped. "A building? Like how big?"

"A whole skyscraper."

"Is that part of the whole gravity thing?"

Raph nodded.

"Woah I'm like super poweful!"

"Yeah you were a mystic warrior in the future. Like the most powerful person to ever live!"

Mikey mouth hung open.

"No way! For real? Aw man this me sounds so cool! I wish you could meet him."

Raph hummed in response. "I'm sure Mikey would like to meet you to! Do you want to tell me a bit about your world?"

Mikey grinned wildly. "Do I!"

Mikey went on to explain everything from when Splinter got mutated. To all there fights with Shredder and the Krang (Mikey didn't miss how this Raph slightly flinched at the mention of Krang). To their adventuress to space. How they met all their friends like Leatherhead. Basically just everything that happened since they first left the lair.

Raph tapped his knitting needles together.  "Your world sounds a lot different than ours."

"Really?"

"Yeah! For one we weren't accidents."

"Rude."

"No like in the sense we were created for a reason."

Mikey intrest grew. "Really?"

Raph nodded. "We were created as soldiers to wipe out the human race."

Mikey eyes widened at this. "Wait so have you wiped out the human race?"

Raph chuckled. "No no. Splints saved us from the guy who made us and raised us himself."

Mikey nodded. "Okay good. Cause it would be a real bummer if your guys did wipe out the human race."

"Yeah it would." Raph said with a small smile. "Hey its getting kinda late and you haven't eaten yet. I'll grab you something from the kitchen than bring it here. Than tomorrow I can give you a tour of the liar. Is that cool?"

Mikey nodded. Raph got up and head towards the door before turning. "You okay with pizza?"

Mikey smiled at him. "Always." And with that Raph walked out.

Mikey liked it here. Sure he wants to go back to his family but he can enjoy his little vacation in an alternate dimension just a bit.

Plus he's sure the other him is fine and nothing has gone wrong at all.

Yeah.

Everything there was probably just fine.

Chapter Text

No one moved at first.

Everyone was to shocked.

Leo was to scared to.

Mikey was still on his knees crying. The glass digging in to his legs. Blood was pooling around Mikey on the floor.

His out burst came out of no where. All anyone knew is that Mikey snapped the mug in his hand and dropped the glass plates that were currently cutting in to his legs.

Raph was the first to speak.

"Mikey what hell!" He shouted. Anger visibly bubbling to hide the same fear that Leo was under.

Donnie moved first.

He kneeled down next to Mikey making sure not to get any glass stuck in his skin.

"Hey Mikey I'm gonna need to move you and look at your injuries."

Mikey didn't respond. His sobbing now turning in to light sniffling.

"Okay I'm just gonna pick you up. Don't struggle that'll bury the glass deeper. "

Donnie wrapped his arms around the limp Mikey and set him down softly on to a chair. Leo now out of his state of shock ran over to help. Both April and Casey quickly followed.

Mikey stopped sniffling and was now just breathing hard. He had his head pointed down. Refusing to look at anyone.

His legs looked bad. Shards seemed to poke out almost all over his legs. His knees had basic been redused to a bloody mess. With tiny bits of glass falling out everytime he shook. A large piece was stuck in his calf but thankfully seemed to not be super deep.

"Hey Mikey. Are you okay? We need to look at your injuries." Leo said. Mikey did not responded he simply just stared forward tears silently falling from his eyes.

Mikey tried to stand up and fell over almost immediately. Donnie caught him before he could hit the ground and slowly lowered both of them to the floor.

"Hey I just need to need look at your hand and legs? Okay?" Donnie tried reaching out. Panic seized Mikey when Donnie had almost made contact with his hand. Throwing himself away from Donnie. Kicking at Donnie hand as he tried to follow him causing the glass to imbed itself deeper in to his legs.

"Mikey stop moving your gonna make things worse goddamit." Raph tried to move closer to him but Mikey swung his leg in to Raph making him to fall over. The force of the kick pushed on the bigger shard of glass that had been in Mikey calf. Mikey breath barely hitched as the glass dug in to the muscle.

"Should one of us" Leo started but before he could finish Mikey went completely stiff. He stopped moving except for his head that he was moving around wildly. Leo looked over to see April holding out her hand with her eyes glowing.

"I'm sorry Mikey." She stiffly said.

"April what the hell!" Raph yelled from his place on the floor.

Mikey crying picked up again he seemed to be struggling against April hold. Trying desperately to move his limbs.

Nothing.

He screeched and screamed louder than Leo has ever heard him before. Making Leo cover his ears from the sheer volume.

And than.

Boom.

Leo looked over to see that the sink had exploded and now water was showering everywhere.

"Nice going red!" Casey hissed.

"That wasn't me!" April argued back.

April and Casey squabble made April lose focus causing her restrain on Mikey to disappear. Once Mikey seemed to realize he was no longer being held down he tried to stand up once more before falling over again.

"Michaelangelo." Splinter said. His voice cutting through the room. This was the first time he said anything since Mikey freak out started. Splinter had this sorta distant and saddened look on his face.

Mikey attention snapped to Splinter immediately. His eyes filled with fear.

"I don't know what started this and I apologize if it was something I have done. But I need you to let everyone help you. Your injured and need medical attention as soon as possible. We can talk about this after just please let your brothers help you."

Mikey stared at Splinter completely dead eyed. But he did not try to fight when Raph went over to pick him up.

Mikey didn't make a single sound. He was absolutely silent the whole time Raph carried Mikey to the lab as Donnie followed close behind.

Leo turned to the remaining in the room. "Um Master Splinter. Are we still having training today?" Le asked.

Splinter shook his head. "Maybe later. But at the moment it does not seem likely."

Leo nodded. "I'm going to help Raph and Donnie with Mikey. I'll be back."

Leo turned to leave when Casey shouted. "What the hell do you want us to do!"

Leo sighed. "Just hang out for now! Until we know what's happening."

And with that Leo sprints in to the lab.

When he entered the lab Mikey was sitting up on an examination table. His eyes completely glazed over. Donnie was gently cleaning away the blood that coated his legs. While Raph was off to the corner on his T phone occasionally looking up to see how everything was going.

"Hows he doing?" Leo asked coming to stand right beside Donnie.

"Okay. Most of the glass wounds are shallow except for the one on his calf. Which thankfully didn't hit any major arteries but is still deep in his leg. It should heal relatively quickly."

Leo hummed as Donnie moved from cleaning the blood to picking out the pieces of glass.

Donnie eventually got to the peice of glass lodged in to Mikey calf.

"Mikey this is going to hurt like a lot." Donnie warned.

"Hey Mikey." Leo held out his hand to him. "Do you want to squeeze my hand while Donnie gets the glass out? It might make it a bit easier?"

When they were younger Mikey would often squeeze Leo hand when they were doing any sorta painful medical related thing. Like when they were 6 and Mikey scraped his elbow open. Mikey squeezed Leo hand so hard while they were cleaning the scrap Leo was sure his hand would break.

Mikey barely gave any conformation that he heard Leo. But he still grabbed Leo's hand. When Donnie was getting the glass out Mikey did not take more than a few sharp breaths. He had almost no reaction to the massive price of glass in his leg being taken out. Although he did squeeze Leo hand once of twice. And Leo squeezed back.

Once Donnie had finished getting all the glass out he gently started to wrap up Mikey legs. Moving on to his hand. Cleaning the blood off and unwrapping the bandages on it.

That's when Leo notice something.

"Hey Mikey? What are those scars on your arm?"

Both Donnie and Raph tensed while Mikey seemed to be awaken from his trance.

"I'm sorry what?" Mikey asked.

"Those scars? On you arms I've never seen them before. They look bad."
Leo said.

"Oh yeah. They're fine. Nothing weird about them!"

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Mikey if you did something reckless to get those scars you shouls tell us we're your brothers!"

Mikey slightly wilted at that. Donnie sighed. "Leo if you don't recall Mikey has amnesia. Hes not gonna remember how he got those scars."

Mikey nodded. "I really don't sorry."

Leo hummed. "That's fine Mikey. We can talk about it when you get your memories back."

"Speaking of memories." Donnie interjected. "Let me check on your head while were here."

Mikey turned around on the table and Donnie started to unwrap the bandages o his head. He did a couple of tests to see how the healing process was going.

When he was done he had a sour look on his face.

"This doesn't make any sense." Donnie muttered.

"Hey Donnie a little louder for the rest of the room!" Raph shouted.

"Its just....Mikey your head is healing extremely fast."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Mikey asked.

"Well yes. But your head is healing unnaturally quick. Its like your head has been healing for months when its only been one full day since your accident."

Mikey eyes widened. "How is that possible?"

Donnie shrugged. "I don't know."

"Oh what a great scientists you are." Raph said rolling his eyes. Donnie seem to shrink at the comment.

"Raph not the time." Leo said. "Donnie is there any possible explanation for this?"

"Not at the moment. I'll have to run some tests later."

"So." Mikey paused. "Are we still doing training?"

"Uh we are. You are staying on the sidelines until your healed." Leo explained.

Mikey deflated. "Fine." Mikey said as he jumped from the table before stumbling. Leo jumped to steady him.

"Thanks." Mikey mumbled.

And with that the brothers headed back out to the living room.

Mikey

Mikey thought that could've gone better.

And if your asking which part.

All of it.

From him admitting to stealing. To him freaking out at the mention of you know who. To the glass going everywhere. The scars. The head injury.

Speaking of head injury Mikey was sweating bullets when they were talking about his head.

Mikey had only thought he healed his head a little. But turns out he had almost completely fixed all the damge.

Opps.

Thankfully none of these versions of his brothers pushed for answer. Assuming he was just as clueless as them.

Which meant they could go do training.

Now while Mikey never cared for training in his world. He liked the training here. Maybe it was mostly because of how pretty the dojo was but hey at least he now cared about it.

Currently this version of Leo was trying to help him walk out of the lab. Often supporting him when he started to stumble. Helping if he was struggling with a particularly painful step.

Mikey liked this version of Leo. He reminded him a lot of his Raph and sometimes his April. He was caring like Raph and passionate like April. It made him feel better to have such a comforting and familiar presence in such an unfamiliar place.

"Hey see your doing great!" This Leo said as Mikey took another step and didn't stumble from the pain in his legs. Mikey knew he should probably not be walking. But he had refused any other sorta help that wasn't just Leo making sure he didn't fall face first.

Mikey didn't always like getting help esspically when it was for something that could make him seem weaker.

Maybe it was from being coddled physically and emotionally by his brothers for years. Being treated like he was younger and less competent. And than expected to be able to handle everyone else emotional problems. To be more mature emotionally than everyone but still be treated as if he had the intelligence of a child. Making him feel as if he asked for help he was just confirming what everyone thought of him. That he was incompetent of anything and needed people to help him every single moment.

Or maybe Mikey was reading to much in to it.

Who knows.

"Hey were almost there!" Leo exclaimed.

And by there he meant the door not the dojo unfortunately.

"Hey you're back!" Casey said as he ran over to them.

"Glad to see your okay!" April yelled out from the kitchen were she was sweeping up glass shards.

"Uh yeah." Mikey mutter out.

Raph and Donnie entered just a few moments later.

"So are we still doing some training?" Donnie questioned. "Cause I would prefer a no."

Leo sighed "I'll go ask Master Splinter." He patted Mikey on the shoulder and left.

"So how are your legs Mikey?" Casey asked as Mikey took a seat as the pain was becoming a bit to much.

"Um fine. They should be better soon." Mikey mumbled out. Mikey wasn't very much in a talking mood. Although he would like to go sit in the dojo. It was very pretty in there.

"Hey you feeling alright Mikey?" Donnie asked. Mikey nodded.

Leo returned. "Splinter says that we still have training." A universal groan. "But he says we can chose what we want to work on." That got a bit more of positive reaction as they all started to walk in to the dojo. Mikey tried to stand before quickly falling back on to the chair. Leo rushed over.

"Do you still need help?" Leo asked bending down to be more on Mikey eye level.

Mikey nodded and with that Leo once again helped Mikey to there destination.

When they had finally got there Mikey legs were already feeling better even if they were cut open earlier in the day.

Mikey took a seat on the sides to watch. Leo hovered over for a moment to make sure that Mikey was okay.

That was something Mikey noticed this Leo did a lot. Sure he hasn't seen much of him. But when he did he always seemed to be hovering over someone. Mikey found it oddly sweet. Even if the hovering could be a bit much for Mikey.

"Today we will be working on any skill you feel the weakest in." Splinter declared to the room.

Everyone nodded before separating to work on their own thing.

Mikey half watch and half looked around the dojo. It had been a nice break from the sewers. A nice reminder that there was something beyond this lair.

Mikey had been so focused on the rooms design that he almost didn't notice when the yelling started.

"What the hell happened to our agreement!" The yell broke Mikey out of his room sight seeing.

"I'm sorry! I panicked! I was just trying to help!" April yelled back.

Raph growled. "We talked about this! Don't use your powers on him!"

April scoffed. "Yeah on his mind! I didn't want him to hurt himself anymore! I had it under control!"

"Oh yeah you were in so much control that you blew up the sink!"

"That wasn't me! I was just trying to help!"

"Well you sucked at it! Nice going!"

"Raphael." Splinter called out. "Stop. Do not let your anger consume you."

This confused Mikey. If you asked him it was okay for him to be angry about this situation.

"You need to control yourself." Splinter said calmly.

"But I am! I am perfectly in control." Raph said slamming his fists down on a near by table and smashing it.

"Raphael." Splinter declared sternly. "If you can not control your anger you are not welcome in this dojo. Take a walk until you are ready to act civilized."

Raph eyes widened just for a second with embarrassment and regret before they morphed to anger. "Fine! I don't need this fucking training anyway!" He yelled as he stormed out.

Splinter sighed. "Now that is taken care of. Please everyone return to what you were working on."

While everyone continued there training. Mikey couldn't help but feel bad for this Raph. His Raph at home had anger issues but had the proper support to work on them.

This Raph didn't.

Having his feelings pushed aside, not acknowledged and belittled could make the issue worse. Resulting in harsher periods of acting out.

This Raph seemed not to ever have someone help with his anger issues in a thoughtful and patient way.

Well Mikey was gonna be the first.

So while everyone was busy. Mikey quietly sneaked/stumbled off to go find the upset Raph.

Chapter Text

Raph didn't care if he was being overdramatic he was fucking pissed.

Him and April had an agreement that she would not use her powers unless they gave the go ahead. And sure he didn't specify which set of powers but still it pissed him off.

Than freaking Splinter kicked him out of the dojo! For what? Yelling? April was yelling and getting angry too. Why wasn't she kicked out!

Raph paced back and forth in the kitchen stewing in his own anger. He didn't even notice Mikey had walked in until he was standing is Raph pacing path. Holding on to the nearby table for support.

"Are you okay?" Mikey asked.

Raph scoffed. "Why do you fucking care! So you can make fun of me!"

Mikey had a confused look before shaking his head. "I can assure you that I'm not gonna make fun of you for your feelings. Anger is a valid emotion. Now tell me what's troubling you."

This took Raph by surprise. Usually when Raph was angry Mikey would spur him on. Purposely rile him up. This wasn't all the time of course but it was enough that it had became what Raph expected.

"Why should I tell you? You wouldn't get it!" Raph shouted.

Mikey took a seat at the table and gestured for Raph to do the same. "Try me."

Raph sighed and took a seat.

"Its just! Whenever... I!" Raph tried to speak but the words would die in his mouth. The white hot rage clogging up his throat.

Mikey just watched and did not say anything as Raph struggled. Until Raph gave up. "Tell me Raphael do you have any proper way of coping with your anger?"

Raph shrugged. "Splinter tried but nothing worked."

Mikey nodded. "And what would these methods be?"

"Having me keep it under wraps? Like make be able to keep it in control during certain situations?"

"And what did he do to accomplish that."

"He had you guys insult me as they fired arrows and have me not be able to do anything."

Mikey tilted his head. "Raphael are you aware that is not a proper way to deal with anger? Anger to the point it is debilitating to someone's everyday life can stem from many sources. Be it neglect, feeling of powerlessness, unfair treatment, lack of respect for one feelings. That strategy is not a helpful one. Learning how to help your anger shouldn't come from your loved ones trying to build up your tolerance. There are many healthy ways to help with that anger."

Raph blinked at Mikey for a moment. "Where did you learn all this?"

He shrugged. "Don't worry about it. The point is our first step is helping you find a healthy outlit. And I know just the thing."

Mikey stands and than stumbles to his room. When he come back he is carrying some spray paints and his headphones with the walkerman still attached.

"You want me to...spray paint?"

Mikey nodded. "Now follow me I know just the place where we can do so."

Raph rolled his eyes but followed his brother in to the sewers anyway.

They arrived to the barren spot that Mikey talked about. Mikey set down the cans and handed the headphones to Raph.

Raph gave him a confused look. Mikey sighed.

"Put them on your ears." Mikey said pointing to his own.

Raph begrudgingly did. Mikey than handed him a spray paint can and pointed to the wall.

"Do whatever. Doesn't have to look good. Just whatever your feeling. " He said with a smile. Mikey turned on the walkerman and loud metal music started playing.

Raph held the spray paint can for a moment before spraying the wall.

Mikey was nearby also using some spray paint on the wall. His movements were much more fluid and natural than Raphs own stiff ones.

Raph tried not to let it bother him and continued on with his own painting.

Him and Mikey barely spoke just occasionally switching paint cans. Raph let himself become immersed in his art. He just put whatever felt right.

When he was finished he took off the headphones and looked over. Mikey was sitting on the ground picking at his wrapping that incased his arms. His project long done at this point. Mikeys art was much more detailed and well thought out than Raphs. It was honestly really beautiful. But he would never say that out loud.

Raph took a seat next to Mikey on the ground. Mikey looked up from his leg that he was currently messing the wrappings of.

"So how are you feeling?" Mikey asked.

"Actually? A lot better!" Raph admitted.

He doesn't know why but Raph suddenly felt less weighed down by his usual emotions. He felt lighter in a way.

Mikey grinned at him. "See! I knew that would help!"

"Heh yeah." Raph said.

Nethier of them spoke for a moment. Both sitting in silence and listening to the sounds of the water rushing by.

"Can I ask you something?" Mikey asked.

Raph shrugged. "Go ahead."

"What was our relationship like before my accident?"

Raph raised an eyebrow at him. "Why do you want to know that?"

Mikey sighed. "I can get a good reading on what my relationship with Donnie and Leo was like. But ours? Its kinda of a mystery to me."

Raph clicked his tongue. "It varied from day to day."

Mikey raised an eyebrow. "That's not an answer."

"What I mean is that your my brother and all that family shit. But sometimes I would just get so upset with you."

"Why?"

"You'd always push my buttons do whatever would make me the most mad. I would retaliate with violence a lot."

Mikey just hummed. "That doesn't sound good."

Raph laughed a little. "Yeah it wasn't always. Constantly having you do the exact thing that would piss me off at my worst. But sometimes, maybe more than I know, I don't think you would realise you were even doing it or you were just being yourself. And I still got mad. I was still violent and angry! When you were just having fun" Raph felt himself start to become angry once again.

"Hey." Mikey sighed putting a hand on Raph shoulder. "This seems complicated. I'm sorry if I was ever purposely pissing you off or purposely setting your anger issues. It wasn't right of me to target something your trying hard to work on. But taking that anger out on others is a slippery slope. It can lead you down a dark path quickly."

Raph turned towards him, Mikey smiled back.

"But hey! Let's make a deal! I promise to try and not purposely mess with your anger issues. If you try to work on some more healthy coping mechanism for your anger." Mikey smiled as he held out his hand.

Raph smiled at him. "You got yourself a deal."

They let there hands go and both turned forward.

"So does that include friendly sibling fighting?"

"Oh of course not."

Both Mikey and Raph laughed before picking up all there stuff and walking back.

Mikey

Once they had returned to the lair Mikey immediately booked it to his room. Dirst he got chewed out for dipping on the training session. But no one noticed until the end so it was fine in his mind.

Once Mikey was in his room he put his paints away and sat on his bed. After this morning's fiasco he had been quite emotionally exhausted. But before he could take a nice midday nap he needed to do something about his injuries.

He slowly unwrapped his legs. The wounds were mostly done bleeding but were still not fully healed over. Mikey put his hand on one of the wounds and let the mystic energy flow through him. He continued to do this for the rest of the ones on his legs. He made sure not to over do it like he did with his head to avoid raising suspicion again. He left his hand as it was to really show that his healing process was just fine and not raise suspicions.

Mikey sighed. The more time Mikey spent here the more he can feel the mystic energy of this place. It was much weaker than the one from his dimension. But it wasn't non existent like Mikey previously thought. There was definitely something. But it was buried deep that few people could reach. It was far down. Untouchable to most normal people.

Thankfully Mikey wasn't most normal person.

But he had no idea were to start in digging deeper to find it. Now he could only suck up what little leaked out from the tight seal that kept it away. Although Mikey still had his ninpo mystic energy to use. He guessed since that was a biological thing its hard to just have it go away. But his ninpo is weak after getting here. It was building itself back up slowly but Mikey still needed more time. More energy.

Mikey clicked his tongue. The hectic morning finally catching up with him. Along with helping this worlds Raph. He felt emotionally and physically exhausted from everything that happened. Mikey layed down in his other self bed. It couldn't be any later than noon but Mikey could feel his eyes start to sag. He still was bothered that he couldn't change the sheets but there wasn't much he could do. Mikey closed his and let sleep wash over him.

Mikey didn't feel right. He felt weightless. Everything felt out of focus. He looked around to find he was no longer in his room.

But rather the krang spaceship.

He was surrounded by the black tentacles. Donnie was near by also wrapped in the same black vines.

Leo was fighting Raph. But he was slowing down, not dodging as quick. Until he put his swords down and Raph grabbed him by the neck, lifting him up in to the air.

Everything Leo said was hard to hear. Muffled and distant. Being drowned out by the buzz of the ship and the ever growing tentacles surrounding Mikey.

But he did make out one thing.

"Raph please...."

Before a loud snap could be heard throughout the whole room.

Than laughter.

From the Krang.

"Kill the other two."

The Krang snap his fingers and Donnie dropped from his vines on to the ground.

Almost immediately Raph was looming over him. He started to smash his fists over and over again on Donnie body. Slowly Donnie stopped fighting back. Going completely limp.

Mikey felt himself fall next. Landing on his knee pads that made his fall a bit more bearable.

He felt himself be grabbed by his head and launched out the window.

Before he could feel his body crack on the ground far far below he was on his feet. Watching the spaceship slowly crumble from the portal being closed.

And there was no Leo.

He knew his other two brothers were near by.

But not Leo.

Mikey tried desperately to open a portal with everything he could.

But there was no portal.

However cracks started to form anyway.

Mikey could feel his body start to break in to pieces and drift away.

Nethier Donnie or Raph could do anything.

Frozen in place.

As Mikey body floated away.

Bit by bit.

Mikey flung himself up from the bed, wildly looked around the room.

Random objects were floating in the air crashing down almost immediately. Mikeys arms had a glow that was now slowly fading.

Mikey breathed in.

He was fine. There was nothing wrong.

Except for all the stuff around the room that has now fallen to the floor.

Mikey sighed.

At least Mikey now has something to do.

Hopefully no one heard the crashing.

Chapter Text

Leo

Leo had been peacefully watching space heros on the couch. April and Raph were off in the kitchen. Most likely talking about there argument from earlier. Donnie was in his lab working and Casey had followed to annoy him.

Which left Leo alone to watch his favorite show.

Until he heard a loud crashing from Mikey room.

Leo didn't panic at first. Rationalizing it as Mikey probably doing some rearranging. He had been pretty particular about his room since the incident with the whole cleaning spree and all.

But the more Leo let time go on, the more anxious he became.

What if Mikey dropped something and hurt himself? What if he reopened one of his wounds? What if he had hit his head again and gave himself double amnesia?

These thoughts were racing through Leo head. They were irrational but it still was enough to get Leo off the couch and to Mikey door.

Leo lightly knocked.

"Mikey? Are you okay?"

Almost immediately he got a respones.

"Yeah Leo I'm fine!"

There was some shuffling than the door opened and Mikey peaked his head out.

"Did you need something?" Mikey asked.

Leo faltered. "No I..... Just want to see if you're doing okay after this morning?"

Mikey sighed. "Yes I am. You don't have to worry."

Mikey started to close the door. But Leo stopped him before he could. "Hey it's fine if your not okay! If your in any sort of pain just talk to us."

"Yeah sure thanks bye!" Mikey said before slamming the door in Leos face.

Leo sighed to himself. Mikey has never been this distant before or stubborn about getting help. He had refused to let anyone help him walk after the glass incident. Saying that he was fine on his own. Discarding almost any suggestion that wasn't basically Leo standing some feet away making sure he doesn't fall.

It was weird to say the least.

Leo turned away from the door and went back to the living room to watch more Space Heros.

The one thing that made sense to Leo and was consistent.

As he was watching Raph came over and sat down.

"So... how did your talk with April go?" Leo asked.

"Actually a lot better than you'd think. Mikey gave me some great advice."

Leo paused for a moment.

"Mikey?"

"Yes?"

"Great advice?"

"Yes?"

A beat of silence.

"There really is something wrong with his brain huh?"

Raph did not stick around long after that. Saying something about helping out Casey.

Leo was once again alone on the couch with nothing to do. He was about to go train instead when Mikey entered the room.

He seemed to have mostly stopped stumbling but now he seemed somewhat drawn in to himself. Wearing the alleged orange hoodie he heard about this morning. Burying himself in it.

He took a seat next to Leo on the couch.

"I would like to apologize." Mikey states.

Leo turns towards him. "What for?"

"For snapping earlier. I shouldn't have after you've been so nice to me. You seem to have a lot on your plate."

Leo smiled and patted his head. "Don't worry about it little bro I have it handled."

"But I am worried about it!" He unexpectedly yelled out before strinking into himself.

"Its just....I see how stressed you are. Even with my messed up head I see how much pressure your under and I'm sorry that I have to add to that."

Leo sighed. "You're not making things harder for me just cause your injured. Your my little brother. I'm meant to worry."

There was a sour look on Mikey face as if he didn't agree with what Leo said.

"Okay. But you still shouldn't feel like that if you are. And you can talk to me if you do feel stressed."

Leo blinked. Had Mikey just told him he could talk to him? That was wildly out of character. No offense to Mikey but while he was an emotional person he wasn't the type to be so direct with people problems. It left Leo shocked for a moment before regaining himself.

"I promise I will."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"So can you help me bring the trash bags up now?"

Leo sighed. "Sure."

When Leo and Mikey started to bring the trash bags up it had just getting dark out. But Mikey didn't seem super concerned about being seen by humans.

"There is like no one ever on these streets." He said as he threw a bag of trash in to the dumpster. "Plus we can just lie and say were cosplaying some fantasy characters."

Leo didn't know how to feel about that so he just threw his respective trash bag in to the dumpster. They took a few more trips to get all the trash cleared out and after about fiveish trips they had taken all the trash out of the lair.

After they both sat on the couch taking a break from the work they had just done. Leo turned on the TV to see he had never stopped the Space Heros DVD he'd been watching. He got up to take it out when Mikey spoke up.

"What's this?"

Leo turned towards him. "Space heros."

"Can we watch an episode?"

Leo raised an eyebrow. Mikey has never wanted to watch an episode of Space Heros with him.

To be fair no one has.

"Um yeah sure."

Leo took a seat on the couch next to Mikey while the episode played. As the DVD continued Mikey would occasionally laugh at the jokes and gasps at the shocking parts.

It lit up Leo world to know someone was just as invested as him.

As more and more episodes passed Mikey reactions became slower and sluggish. Leo hadn't even realized Mikey was falling asleep until he was leaning on to Leo shoulder barely keeping his eyes open.

Leo turned the TV off and picked up Mikey as gently as he could. Taking him to his respective bedroom now cleared of trash and softly setting him down on the bed.

Leo had gone to bed not long after carrying Mikey and woke up later than he intended.

Which seemed to becoming a habit of late.

When he had gotten up he had headed to the kitchen where Mikey was sitting at the table eating an apple.

"Hey Mikey no breakfast today?"

Mikey looks up and raises an eyebrow. "After yesterday?"

Yeesh good point. Leo didn't say anything just grabbing one of the apples (that Mikey definitely stole) and headed to the dojo.

But before he could get there he was stopped by Mikey.

"Where are you going?"

"The dojo?"

"Can I come?"

Leo sighed. "You can't train but you can watch."

Mikey nodded and followed Leo.

When they got there Mikeg took his seat on the sides and Leo drew out his swords. Starting to go over the moves Splinter had taught him.

Both of them didn't talk much at first. Leo was to focused on his moves to try and engage in conversation.

Until Mikey spoke.

"What was I like before?"

Leo stopped what he was doing and turned towards Mikey.

"Um what?"

"Like what was I like before I hit my head."

Leo put his swords down and took a seat next to Mikey.

"You were a lot of things."

Mikey raised and eyebrow. "That doesn't narrow it down."

"Well for starters you liked to play pranks."

Mikey looked a bit confused but leaned forward, listening intently.

"And you liked joking around. You didn't take a lot of things seriously. Even like the worst of things."

Mikey tilted his head a little. "Yeah?"

"Yeah! You were always trying to get a laugh out of us, trying to keep the mood up. Always saying jokes.

A slight sad smile graced Mikey lips. "Really."

"Well sure! You always seemed unaware of certain stuff. Although I couldn't always tell if you didn't know what was happening or just pretended you didn't so you could get away with more."

Mikey laughed nothing super hard but a small giggle. The giggle was soon followed by tears bubbling in his eyes. The bubbling soon turned in to small controlled sobs.

"Hey it's okay I didn't mean to upset you."

Mikey wiped at his eyes. "You didn't! Your fine. I'm just really emotional that's all."

Leo patted him on the shoulder.

"Its just sounds like I was so much better before...this."

His words were very vague to Leo. Like he was referring to something besides his amnesia.

"Hey it's okay! Were your brothers will love you no matter who you are."

Mikey faced morphed in to something akin to more guilt. Before he quickly hid it.

"I appreciate the sentiment."

Leo smiled. Mikey than looked at Leo intensely. "I hope you know we'll also love no matter what. You don't have to shoulder all of our problems. You don't deserve that. You should get the chance to express your problems. And I'm sorry that you don't get to. So please if you want to express them talk to me."

Leo could feel his eyes start to water. He pulled Mikey in to a tight hug as his tears started to spill out.

"Will do."

Mikey

Fuck was Mikey could think as he left the dojo.

Being in this dimension was eating at him emotionally. Although it really shouldn't.

Mikey doesn't know why hes feeling so bad about impersonating there brother than helping them. Shouldn't this feel good? Usually Mikey loves helping people. But this felt dishonest.

It's not just that ever since the invasion everything felt harder when it came to helping people. Mikey felt like he was more sensitive to people's feelings and his own. Call it a mystic or trauma reaction but it was still messing him up. He hadn't felt like himself. He felt like he wasn't as lively as he use to be. Hearing about how this Mikey could still be so jovial after everything he could assume these versions of his brothers went through?

Makes him feel much worse.

He sighed to himself as he got to his room. He did like talking to Leo. He was kinda awkward but nice at the same time. Nice in a weird way. Leo had to be his favorite so far. He was just so familiar. Reminding him of his Raphael.

Raph in this dimension had to be his second favorite he was angry, reminding him of his Raph when they were younger. But he was also very caring and passionate which was reminiscent of his Raph at the current age.

He hadn't spent enough time with ethier Casey or Donnie to form a strong opinion on ethier. Although he was pretty sure this Casey was a variant of Cassandra instead of Junior.

This version of April...she was nice much like his own April. Stubborn always trying to be welcoming and open to Mikey.

But she .....confused Mikey.

When she held him down she used some sorta telekinesis. It wasn't anything mystical. Mikey would have sensed if it was. So that made Mikey wonder.

How she do it?

That wasn't his biggest concern at the moment. His biggest concern was trying not to feel like this. After his conversation with Leo in the dojo he needed a moment to collect his thoughts.

He sighed he hadn't meditated in a while so he took a seat on the floor and closed his eyes.

He breathed in and out. Letting his surroundings melt away. Trying to connect to the mystic energy of this dimension. The more time Mikey spent here the more he could feel it. Its weak but it's there. Few seem to be able to tap in to it but lucky for Mikey he has a little hack called ninpo.

Mikey let himself feel for it. He let himself be dragged down to were the mystic energy resided. It was deep below the surface. Buried.

Hard to reach.

Hard to tap in to.

He kept going deeper.

Searching.

Sinking down.

Deep below.

The mystic energy here was murky to say the least. It wasn't defined properly. It was so much less intense than his home dimension but more unruly. It was no wonder why it was so hard to tap into.

Mikey kept digging until he could feel it graze his skin. Brush up near him. He could let it swallow him and take him.

Or he could pull it in to himself.

Use it.

And the energy could have an outlet.

It would be a mutual relationship. Similar to his relationship with his kuro fundi and the sun demon that lived inside.

Mikey could use the demon as a weapon and they could rain destruction.

Mikey was so close to it. The mystic energy of this place.

He could feel it in his bones.

He could taste.

He could breath it.

"Mikey?"

A knock at the door.

Mikey quickly pulled himself out of his trance and ran to the door to open it.

"Yes?"

Donnie stared at it.

"Um its dinner... Casey and April brought pizza."

Mikey paused for a moment. "I'll be out in a minute."

Mikey closed the door and sighed.

So close.

So freaking close.

Chapter Text

Mikey

Mikey was mostly silent during dinner. Taking this time to observe the variant versions of his family. Mikey thought it was going well until he went to kitchen to get some of the ice cream Casey had brought with the pizza.

And he saw it.

An ice cream cat.

Mikey jumped back and screamed. Everyone on the couch came rushing over to see what happened.

"Mikey what's wrong?" Leo asked, being the first to make it to the kitchen.

Mikey pointed wildly at the fridge. "The cat!"

Leo turned towards the fridge and smiled. "Mikey it's just ice cream kitty!"

Leo reached and grabbed the bowl out of the fridge and placed her on the island. Mikey leaned down so he was on eye level with the cat.

"Shes so cute! But isn't she gonna melt?" Mikey asked.

"Well yes eventually but if we don't leave her out for to long it will be fine." Donnie said leaning on the isle that everyone was now surrounding.

Mikey looked in to the cats eyes. They were probably a normal cat before this able to go where ever she please. But now they were stuck to a freezer.

"That's.....sad."

Everyone was confused by Mikeys words. "Uh what do you mean?" Leo asked.

"Its just she was normal cat before this right? And now shes made of ice cream. Like it must be horrifying to feel your body melting and reform you know? Than that melting only happens when shes with the ones she loves. Spending her time in isolation is the only way to keep her alive. It seems so lonely. She must be in so much pain." Mikey said as he petted the top the cats head. The cat purred at the touch. Mikey had once been a liquid state like this cat. He didn't remember much being delirious from sickness but he's pretty sure it was painful.

Everyones faces morphed in to sour expressions. Like they hadn't considered the horrifying truth about there pet.

"So you guys still want ice cream?" Casey said after a long silence.

"After that? No I don't think I want to eat ice cream ever again." Raph responded.

They opted for watching a movie with no dessert instead of eating the ice cream Casey brought.

And once again Mikey fucked up his cover.

The next day had actually been quite chill. Nothing had really happened. It was probably the most relaxed days Mikey had since he got here. Mikey watched some space heros with Leo and than had Raph vent to him about his anger.

It was a pretty nice day.

Until Donnie found him.

"Hey Mikey can I check your wounds and run some tests one you?"

Donnie found Mikey while he was sitting on the couch. He had been wearing the orange hoodie he had stolen and playing with the cuffs. Mikey shrugged and followed Donnie in to his lab.

Mikey took a seat on an examination tables while Donnie gather some of the needed materials. This lab was much more barren than his own Donnies. And not to mention dirty. His Donnie would probably have a stroke if he  saw the state of this Donnies lab.

Donnie came over with everything he collected. "Okay so first I'm gonna need a blood sample. Can you hold out your arm."

Mikey did as he was told. He didn't say anything when the needle pinched his skin and started to suck up his blood.

Donnie took the needle out after collecting several viles of blool, looked at one of them before dropping some chemicals Mikey didn't know in to them.

"What you checking?" Mikey asked.

Donnie sighed. "Well I'm checking the quality of your white blood cells. These chemicals should tell me if something is up with them."

"But how?"

Donnie sighed again. "Mikey could you not patronize me and let me work."

Mikey tilted his head. "But I'm not trying to patronize you I'm trying to understand how that's going to tell you anything about my white blood cells."

Donnie clicked his tongue in annoyance. "It just does okay! Now can I check your hand and legs?"

Mikey nodded pushing out his legs so his knees were locked and they were straight in front of him. Donnie started undoing the wrappings examining the wounds.

"They've stopped bleeding which is good. Although were gonna need to keep them wrapped for a little while longer." Donnie wrapped them back up. "Can I see your hand now?"

Mikey held out his hand and Donnie unwrapped it. Donnie cringed away at the scars but continued to exam Mikeys hand. "The wounds might scar."

Mikey hummed but didn't say anything. He was fine with scars on his hand, he'd gotten use to them after opening the portal.

Donnie started to wrap his hand back up. Before picking up the the vile and sloshing it around.

"So why did you think I was patronizing you?"

Donnie clicked his tongue. "Cause you usually do."

"Oh I'm sorry." Mikey said looking down.

"What's with you? You haven't messed up anything yet. You haven't complained or barely said anything!"

"I have amnesia. I'm not gonna act the same as before."

Donnie sighed. "Right sorry I lost my temper there."

"Hey it's okay if you want to talk about it. I'm all ears!"

"No offense Mikey but I really don't think you could be helpful on whatever hypothetical thing you think I'm going through."

Mikey mentally rolled his eyes. Why did they all act like he was incompetent? Just like his own brothers (sometimes). But like 10xs worse.

Mikey sighed. "Are you sure?"

"Yes I'm very sure! God can't you mind your business?" Donnie snapped.

Mikey bit his tongue, knew something was wrong.

Donnie sighed before putting his head in his hands. "Sorry sorry. I guess I can talk to you. Its just." He paused. "Do you ever feel wrong? Or like we are missing because of..........you know?" Donnie vaguely gestures to himself.

Mikey hums. He never really felt like that. Sure he couldn't go to school and stuff but he was still able to make friends (online at least). And with there discovery of the Hiddden City he never really felt like he was missing out. There were many opportunities for socializing with people his age in group activities. He and his brothers, but mostly himself, have taken advantage of these activites since they defeated the shredder. Mikey had even made some friends with similar interests while participating in said activities.

"I guess not but do you feel as if you're 'missing out'?"

"I don't know. I guess? I just kinda want a..." he trailed off for a second. "A normal life."

Mikey clicked his tongue. "I see. Do you ever feel disconnected from your current life? Like you imagine yourself as normal and that makes your current situation feel foggy or distant?"

"Uh maybe. I don't know sometimes? I just think about how much easier everything would be we were normal teenagers. Or if we just never mutated at all!"

Mikey tilted his head. "So you wish you did not exsit in a sense? That you would prefer to just be gone?"

"Whoah I never said that! I just." Donnie thought for a moment. "I wish I was normal. Like how other teens are! Care free. Not having to worry about being judged for how I look when I have no control over it."

Mikey nodded. "Have you thought of voicing this to anyone before? You may not be alone in this line of thinking?"

Donnie shook his head. "No I don't think Leo or Raph would understand. Leo probably hasn't thought much about it and Raph just doesn't care much on what others think of him."

"I see. Do you think this difference in philosophies caused any sorta change in your relationships? Has this impacted how you've interacted with anyone in your life."

Donnie thought for a moment. "I guess. It can be hard relating to Raph and Leo sometimes. They don't get it. Or at least don't see our situation the same as me. And I guess its impact my other relationships."

Mikey raised an eyebrow. "Do tell."

"You've met Casey right?" Mikey nodded. "I feel this weird sense of jeloulsy? I guess. And maybe I can be a bit aggressive towards him. But he's normal! Nothing weird. No mutations. He looks like an average teenage boy. And I guess I want that. I want to look normal. I know if I looked like me." Donnie stopped for a moment. "April would actually like me."

"Did you have kind of falling out?"

"Uh no.... I like her in like a crush?"

Pause.

What?

Is April not there sister here? If she was ew. If she wasn't? Still ew to Mikey at least who could only see April as a sister.

Mikey tried to keep his disgust and confusion under wraps and continue with the session. "I see. Tell me do you feel a sense of attachment to April? Does she help you feel normal?"

"I mean yeah. She's never rude or insensitive about.... you know. Shes doesn't call us weird she accepts us. The first human to actually. "

"And by any chance do you feel a special connection with April? Would you say you rely on this relationship in a way?"

"Um maybe? I mean April is my best friend and I would like her to be more! But..."

Mikey leaned in. "But?"

"I can be a lot? Nothing terrible! It's just... I may take things a bit to far."

"I see. In what ways do you do this?"

"Well I may be a tab bit obsessive at times. And overwhelming. And I use to not leave her alone. But I'm better now! I know that's bad!"

"Ah. Okay." Mikey breathed in. "Donatello. Do you think maybe your obsession on April may partically stem from your need to feel normal?"

"Uh what?"

"Having a crush on a girl at your age is quite 'normal'. And what I can assume is the first girl you have been friends with no? You said she was the first human to make you feel normal, no?" Donnie nodded. "That deep need for a sense normalcy and the first personal connection outside of your family manifested itself as an obsession with the first person who made you feel 'normal'. So I assume when Casey came along and threatened your possible sense of normalcy you felt threatened. As if your first taste of a regular life was going to be taken away. You retaliated against him. Acting out in a more aggressive way towards the possible 'threat'. To the point of possible self destruction with your relation with both Casey and April. Maybe not yet but soon in the future."

Donnie stared wide eyed at Mikey. His mouth hung open.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to drop that all on you all at once. That was unprofessional of me. We can take a break and start again another time if that was overwhelming for you?"

"Uh Michael. How did you? I...."

Donnie looked flabbergasted his eyes moved all over as if trying to piece together in his head how Mikey could know all this.

"Shouldn't you be checking on your mixture?" Mikey said quickly changing the conversation.

"My what? Oh OH shit." Donnie quickly grabbed his mixture and dropped some more chemicals in to it.

The rest of the time Mikey was there went by quickly. Donnie checked on all his head, made some notes, took some more samples and Mikey was on his way.

Mikey didn't know what to do for the rest of the day. He felt completely emotionally drained from his conversation and Donnie probably feels 10xs worse then him.

Mikey really shouldn't have sprung that on him.

Maybe he should talk to him about it? But Mikey also doesn't want to overwhelm him. He should probably wait a few days and see how he's processing everything Mikey said.

Yeah.

That sounds good.

Donnie

Donnie felt empty.

He felt weird. Like his an entire view on the world had been stripped down and rebuilt from the ground up.

Had he only ever liked April cause he wanted to feel normal?

Had he really done half of that shit for some vague feeling of being normal?

Donnie brain felt it was on fire. And what made it all worse is that the revelation came from Mikey!

Fucking Mikey of all people was able to see right through him.

Does that mean everyone else could?

And if they couldn't what happened to Mikey to make it so easy for him to pick someone apart like that?

He was acting like a full on therapist.

It just didn't make sense.

No offense but his brother wasn't particularly known for being able to read people.

Being emotional and empathetic?

Sure.

But being able to strip away layers and layers of a person from a quick conversation?

Unheard of.

Even from most practicing professionals that was unheard of.

Donnie kept thinking of this until his blood sample from earlier that was checking Mikey cells was done brewing. Quickly getting up to check on it to see what the results were.

What Donnie found was something he was not expecting.

Now Donnie and his brothers white blood cells were different from humans being mutants and all.

But this?

Donnie is sure he has never seen white blood cells this strong nor this frequent in any living creature.

It was unreal.

As Donnie recovered from his shock he tried to rationalize.

Maybe Mikey had some sort of late mutation?

Not likely.

His blood cells were always like this?

Maybe but Donnie 90% sure he'd know.

What if he had gotten in to mutagen again?

The idea struck Donnie so quickly he barely registered it before reeling back.

No Mikey wouldn't do that again. He'd learn from his last time.

Right?

Donnie will have to do more tests on the samples he collected before he jumps to conclusions.

Chapter Text

Mikey

It was the day after Mikeys conversation with Donnie and Mikey needed to clear his head.

Mikey had been stuck in the sewers since his heist Friday night (not counting taking the trash out with Leo). Mikey needed to do something he hadn't done in awhile, change things up a bit and since everyone didn't seem to want him out of the lair just yet he would have do something within the lair.

Luckily for Mikey he had picked up some art supplies when he went out on his little said heist that he had stashed away in his room. Mikey took them out to the table in the kitchen and set himself up a makeshift art area. No one was there so he allowed himself to spread out all his supplies and get to work.

Mikey let himself become lost in his art. He found himself being drawn to his dreams involving the Krang for inspiration. He wanted to make  something that would encapsulate the horror of the Krang zombies Mikey witnessed like what Raph ahd been.

The end result ended up having a normal looking person, with no turtle like features, as the main focus. The human figure was at a side profile with there arm reaching out as krang tentacles slowly incased there body. There mouth contorted in to a silent scream as Krang tentacles found there way in the figures mouth.

The painting was much more detailed than Mikey had intented. He didn't notice he painted in all the veins making them look more alive. It kinda disturbed Mikey to be honest but he also was pretty proud of how it came out.

Mikey slid the canvas out of the way and started on his next painting.

Sketching what he wanted when he heard a voice behind him.

"Holy shit."

Mikey turns to find Casey Jones of this universe leaning over Mikeys Krang art that had found itself at the end of the table.

"Did you make this?"

Mikey turned to face Casey.

"Um yeah?"

"Dude! No way I didn't know smacking your head could make you new skills! Do you think if I run in to a wall I'll get better at hockey?"

Mikey stared at him for a long moment.

"No.... I don't think you will. Also aren't you suppose to be in school it's a Tuesday?"

"Pfff yeah but like I get out early dude. So can I sit and draw with you?"

Mikey was quiet for a moment before nodding. Casey took a seat a across from Mikey at the table. Casey took one of the blank pages of paper Mikey had brought with him and started to doodle on it.

Mikey continued on his paintings. This one was much more simple that the other. Not being nearly as detailed as his last one. But it had a much more thought out composition compare to the pervious one.

It protrayed two three fingered hands, quite similar to Mikeys own hands, holding a orange portal as his family symbol sat in the middle. Krang tentacles and cracks danced up the three fingered hands.

Mikey pushed that painting to the side and started on another one. The next one was quite much, even to Mikey standards. Similar to the first painting he had no real direction he just put what he was feeling.

It was someone's neck with purple flowers surrounding them, choking them. Purple hyacinth, is what Mikey believes they're called. They were one of his dads favorites. Slowly Mikey added Krang eyes that resembled the ones Raph possessed while under the Krangs control to the stems of the flowers.

Mikey wasn't even done with the painting and he was already unsettled with it. He couldn't place why.

"Hey Mikey, hey Casey."

Mikey looked towards the voice to see April of this universe walking up to the table.

"What you guys doing?"

"Drawing! Check at my sweet artist skills!" Casey said as he held up a crudely drawn picture of himself with large muscles.

"Uh yeah... that's interesting." April paused. "Mikey what are you making?"

"Nothing really. Just painting."

"Dude? Nothing really? These are like some of the coolest paintings I've ever seen!"

Casey picked up Mikeys first painting showing it off to April who was still standing at the entrance of the kitchen.

April eyes widen she stared at the canvas. "Mikey that's.....wow."

"You can say you don't like it. I won't be offended." Mikey said shrugging.

"What? No. It's just that its really disturbing. But like amazing!"

"Um thank?"

"I didn't mean it like that. Um.."

April awkwardly stood there until Casey came to save there failing conversation.

"Hey! Where did you get the inspo for these Mikester? There so wicked!"

"Oh um the Krang." Mikey voice gave out when he said Krang so the word ended up sounding closer to a gasp of air than anything actually meaningful.

"Uh I didn't catch that?" Casey asked again.

"Krang." Mikey tried again but his voice kept dying in his throat.

"Um okay? I still can't hear you."

"Krang." That time Mikey words actually sounded like words rather than just a wheezing breath.

"Oh. No offense Mikey but these seem a little intense to be based off the krang." Casey said.

"Speak for yourself." April muttered out.

"What do you mean by that?"

Casey looked like he was about to answer Mikeys question before April shushed him and dragged him off to the side. They were out of ear shot and were turned away so Mikey didn't even try to listen in.

April and Casey came back and took a seat at the table as if they didn't just have a sidebar excluding Mikey.

"So what are you working on now?" April asked.

Mikey slid his canvas over to her. April studied it for a moment.

"Wow this is really good Mikey! I had no idea you were so good at art!" April slid the painting back to Mikey.

While the compliment would usually lighten up Mikeys world now it was making Mikey nervous.

The Mikey of this universe didn't do art?

Or at least hadn't been in to art as much as Mikey himself?

"Oh you know just one of those things you pick up."

Both Casey and April gave him a weird look before Mikey turned away and went back to his current project. Mikey started to add finishing touches as Casey handed April a piece of paper and they started to doodle together.

Mikey continued with his painting as April and Casey talked about there school day.

Mikey was pretty satisfied with the end result but he was starting to get tired and needed to wine down. So he took a plain piece of paper and doodled on it.

Just fun silly drawings.

Mikey really wasn't listening to the conversation at hand. Just letting everything around him drift away.

"Hey Mike's?"

Mikey looked up to April who had called him.

"Do you mind maybe teaching me how to paint at some point when you have the time?"

Mikey slowly nodded. "Sure I just need more paints."

April smiled. "Great! I can't wait to learn!"

Mikey returned her grin.

"Whoa whoa your gonna teach Red but not me? Dude loyalty."

Mikey giggled. "I can teach you too!"

"Sweet girls love a guy who can do art!"

April rolled her eyes. "Yeah sure Case."

They all started to have a fun banter after that. Just talking about what they were drawing and what they would like to learn to do.

Being able to talk about his passion for art was really nice to Mikey since he hasn't been able to since he got here. Hes not counting his outing his Raph his they barely talked during that.

Mikey was now starting to pick everything up and move to his room as Casey and April helped. They all chatted together excitedly.

When they got to his room Casey gasped. "Dude you cleaned!"

Mikey blinked. "Yeah? It was filthy."

"Its just we've never seen your room clean." April in a equally shocked voice.

"Well now you have. Suprise!" Mikey paused. "Are you all sticking around?"

"No sorry I promised Donnie to help him with his a new experiment."

"And I'm going with Red!"

"You can come with us if you want? It's just down the hall."

"Nah um I want to stay here."

"If your sure!"

Both Casey and April left.

And Mikey was alone.

Mikey liked both Casey and April. Casey reminded him a lot of his own Casey. Wild, out going, aggressive. But they both were still really different, besides the obvious differences in gender. Casey's of Mikeys world aggression had been shaped and cultivated by the foot clan to make her the perfect soldier. She was wild but also restrained. Even after she left the foot clan there was always this sense of her not knowing how to react. Keeping a part of herself in.

Huh.

Mikey hadn't really thought her situation much before.

He should really see if he can squeeze Casey from his world in for a session with Doctor Feelings.

Oh and Junior. You know the whole apocalypse thing.

They both really need it.

Casey had an anger you only see in certain teenage boys. A fire that could be let out whenever and few would care. He seemed much more controlled than his Casey's. But also more free. He didn't have to express his anger in a way that would please others like his Casey had to.

As for April Mikey was starting to see the similarities with his own. Both of them were outgoing and a impulsive. A bit sarcastic when need be but always willing to support others.

But the April of this world was more aggressive than his own April. Mikey would more describe his April as headstrong and tough but never that aggressive, well except when fighting of course. Although they were definitely both stubborn when it came to what they believed in and cared about.

Mikey kinda hopes that's a trait in all
April's

He always liked that trait.

Mikey must admit at first he was a bit wary of this worlds April, mostly because of the whole broken glass incident. But now Mikey was getting to know her she was starting to grow on him. This April had taken such an interest in learning about Mikeys paintings that he only really received from his brothers and his own April.

Mikey was still curious about her telekinesis powers.

But he's sure he'll learn about them at some point.

Mikey sighed, he'd worry about that later.

Now?

He was going to lay down and take a nap. Which is really not something he particularly wanted to do. But he'd been losing sleep at night due to nightmares. Which meant he was already exhausted for the day.

So Mikey layed down closed his eyes and let himself slip away.

April

"So that was weird right?" April turn towards Casey.

"Yeah he was acting strange and more than Mikey usually does."

April pushed the door open to Donnie lab. Donnie was sitting at his workbench dripping some unknow chemicals in to a beaker. Donnie put down the chemicals and looked up.

"Hi April! And Casey."

Usually Donnie voice would take on a disgusted tone when addressing Casey. But now he had almost same tone when addressing April.

Odd but a welcomed change in April's opinion.

"Hey Donnie why did you text me saying I needed to get here as soon as possible?"

Donnie got up from where he sat and came over to where they were standing near the entrance.

"I have reason to believe that there is something wrong with Mikey."

Casey rolled his eyes. "No duh dude. Mans got amnesia."

Donnie sighed and rubbed his temples. "No there's something more wrong with him. Like in his DNA. Let me show you."

Donnie walked back to his work bench and picked up a tube than walked back.

"This is one of the experiments I did on Mikeys DNA yesterday. Specifically I was looking for mutagen with in said DNA. And what I found was disturbing to say the least."

"Disturbing in what way?" April prompted.

"Disturbing in the way that it doesn't match any mutagen sample we've seen before. Which could possibly mean one of two things: Mikey was exposed to a new mutagen at some point in time. Or this may not be our Mikey."

Casey rolled his eyes. "So why did you call Red here? Shouldn't you've called everyone?"

Donnie shook his head. "I don't want to jump to any conclusions just yet. I want to verify my theory first."

"Okay? So why was I called to help you with that?"

"Simple. I want you to look in his mind."

There was a beat of silence.

"Donnie you can't be serious." April asked.

"I am. 'Mikey' would be the only one to know what happened. It's the only way to be sure."

"Donnie I know Mikey has been a bit out of character lately. But I'm not gonna look in Mikey mind unless its the last option. And ignoring the moral factors I made a promise to Raph!"

Casey raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you already break that promise?"

April turn toward him. "That was a mistake! I freaked." She sighed. "I'm sorry Donnie but I can't do it."

Donnie sighed. "April. Mikey could be in real danger. We don't know what is wrong with him. There is two very horrific possibilities to this that you have to consider."

April thought for a moment.

She was scared that there very well might be something wrong with Mikey that she could've figured out and only find out about when it was to late.

But.

She also doesn't want to pry into his mind unless it's there absolute last option.

Before she could say anything else though Casey spoke.

"No way Don. April made her decision so just let it go."

"Listen Casey Jones. You can have an opinion on this when it's your brother in danger until than stay out of it."

Casey bared his teeth. "Mikey is my friend! So is April! If April doesn't want to she doesn't have to!"

"Where is this attitude coming from? Since when do you care what April wants? Since when has ethier of us?"

Casey looked taken aback. "Wait what."

"Nevermind just something Mikey brought up." Donnie said his voice suddenly being almost a whisper compare to the shouting that had just been happening.

April shook her head. "Nevermind whatever this was." She gestured wildly around her. "We have bigger problems." April rubbed her temples. "Donnie I'm not gonna look into Mikeys mind until Raph and everyone else agrees to. If you want me to look in his head ask Raph."

Donnie sighed. "Fine I will."

Donnie

April and Casey left not long after that. Donnie was still not happy but he understood where April was coming from. She already messed up once with her powers he doubts she wants to again.

Donnie sighed, ever since his conversation with Mikey everything around April and Casey has felt weird. Donnie couldn't pinpoint why.

Well he could but he really didn't want to think about.

Donnie had more important things to worry about.

Like talking to Raph.

Donnie knocked on Raphs door and waited. Raph opened the door holding Chompy in one hand.

"The hell do you want?"

Donnie cleared his throat. "Can I talk to you in your room."

Raph shrugged and opened the door more. Donnie quickly headed in. Raph took a seat on the bed while Donnie remained standing.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

"Mikey."

Raph posture immediately straightened.

"Is something wrong with him?"

"No! Well yes! Maybe." Donnie sighed. Time to get straight to the point. "I want April to use her powers on his mind."

There was a moment of silence.

"No."

"But Raph."

"No!"

"Wait Raph I didn't explain!"

"Get out."

"Huh?"

"GET OUT."

Donnie rushed out before Raph could yell anymore.

Donnie sighed to himself once the door closed. That went terribly. Why did he think he could just jump in with no explanation? He was so caught up in asking he forgot to explain everything. Now Raph is probably going to even more stubborn about it.

Stupid.

Donnie stomped back to his lab. Fuming from today's failures. Nothing was working and no one was believing him.

Donnie flopped down at his desk once he reached his lab. He was getting nowhere. He wasn't convincing anyone and Mikey could be running out of time for all he knew.

Donnie was gonna have to take things in to his own hands.

Gather his more evidence.

For the the sake of Mikey and family.

Chapter Text

Donnie

Donnie plan was ready to be set in motion.

Donnies current objective was to gather evidence to prove to Raph that something was really wrong with Mikey and the only way to confirm it was to look in Mikeys head with April's powers.

Donnie knows this isn't the most moral strategy, running his brother through a series of tests without his knowledge, but no one was believing him. And he really needed to prove his theory about something being wrong with Mikey, beyond amnesia, as soon as possible.

Donnie had two ideas of what was happening; something was wrong with his Mikey or some weird copy of Mikey toom his place. Which he knows is a crazy theory that his brothers would roll there eyes at but honestly? With all the weird stuff that happens to them Donnie is keeping it as an option.

Although that theory made him worry because if the Mikey he's living with is a copy.....

What happened to the real Mikey?

Right now he needs to focus and not think about that. After his conversations with April and Raph, Donnie spent all night coming up with tests he could do to sublty gather evidence on Mikey, so he could present it to his brothers and prove his point.

Easy right?

The first test would involve there normal training.

If there was truly something wrong with Mikeys mutagen strength may have been altered. If hes a copy his fighting style may be different.

Both Donnie was going to watch for.

Most of Mikey injuries were healed so there wouldn't be any extra strain on him (honestly though if you ask Donnie taking less than a week to heal from a concussion is reason enough to be suspicious, even for a turtle mutant).

"Wait really?" Mikey excitedly said once Donnie told him he was in the clear for training.

"Um you sure he's good? Mikeys accident wasn't even a week ago?" Leo asked.

Donnie nodded. "Well hes basically fully healed. So I he should be good to go."

Leo sighed. "Alright as long as you're sure."

The three of them all walked in to the dojo from where they were in Donnies lab. Raph was already there with Master Splinter with April and Casey would joining them soon.

Raph scowled once he saw, which was fine with Donnie cause once he proved something was suspicious going on with Mikey.

Raph will eat his words, more accurately facial expressions, but not the point.

April and Casey arrived not long after Donnie explained to Splinter that Mikey was in the clear for training. Both Splinter and Raph seemed skeptical at first but Donnie quickly smoothed over there worries. Well at least Master Splinters, Raph was still giving Donnie a death stare.

"Oh by the way. I asked Karai if she wanted to come by for our training session and she said yes!"

Mikey who hadn't said much flinched at the mention of Karai. If Donnie wasn't looking for suspicious behavior he would have never noticed it.

Raph raised an eyebrow. "Did you tell Karai about the whole amnesia situation?"

Leo face went blank. "Um I may have forgotten to mention that."

Raph rolled his eyes. "Our fearless leader."

"It's fine she said she'd be late so I'll just text her now about it the situation!" Leo took out his t-phone and started typing.

"Very good she is welcomed to join us whenever she wants." Splinter held up his hand. "We shall now begin. Since Michaelangelo is just coming back we shall go easy. Spar in assigned pairs. Winner of each match will fight the other winner on a one on one and so on until there is only one left. The winner will fight Kairai when she arrives."

Everyone nodded and got into there assigned pair. Raph was with Casey, Leo was with April and Donnie was with Mikey.

Which worked out perfectly for Donnie. Now instead of paying attention to his own fight and Mikeys he could just pay attention to how Mikey was fighting within his own sparing match.

Everyone got in to position crouching

Waiting.

Everyone stood.

"Hajime."

Donnie held up his bo staff but before he could strike he felt the cold chains of Mikeys nunchucks wrap around him. Master Splinter had given Mikey a new pair that had extendable chain similar to his other pair that he lost after falling off the roof.

Donnie wasn't given much time to think because right after having the chains wrapped around him he was violently swung in to the wall landing on the ground before quickly pushing himself back to his feet.

Donnie immediately charged at Mikey swinging his bo staff slamming it where Mikey stood. But before it made contact Mikey back flipped out of the way. But instead of landing on his feet he ended up on his hands.

Giving Donnie the advantage.

Donnie swiped at his hands to try and knock him down but Mikey quickly swung his legs from where they where they were in the air under his body and into Donnies face.

Donnie stumbled back and before he knew it Mikey was back on his feet nunchucks in hand. Donnie charged again slamming his staff down but Mikey danced out of the way. Donnie continued to do this but Mikey kept moving out of the way with very little effort. Mikey wasn't even really trying to attack just evade.

At one of Donnies slams he didn't recover fast enough giving Mikey the opportunity to slam his entire body weight in to Donnie after wrapping him in his chains. Leaving Donnie dazed on the floor.

Mikey got up and than leaned over Donnie. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Donnie mumbled out.

"Great!" Mikey said cheerfully before pulling Donnie up with absolutely no struggle. "Cause I have a few tips" Mikey clapped his hands with excitement and Donnie sighed.

"What?"

"Well mostly that your not using your bo staff to it's full advantage." Mikey gently took the staff out of Donnies hand. "You keep try using it like a bat instead of a staff." He slammed the staff down similar to Donnie earlier but quickly followed with the other end.

"Its a two ended weapon and you can use both ends. Don't treat the other end like a hindrance but like an advantage!" Mikey smiled as he handed the staff back to Donnie.

Donnie was flabbergasted. He couldn't process that he had just been told how to use his own weapon by Mikey. Donnie didn't know how to respond so he just muttered 'thanks' and headed to the sidelines.

Leo and Raph fights finished not long after Donnies, each being the winner of there respective duels. April seemed a bit upset at her own defeat but Leo gave her some tips on how to improve which greatly improved her mood. Ending with her and Leo giggling over something the other said.

Raph was less kind to Casey about his defeat bragging about it while Casey cried for a rematch.

"There are no rematches in life Casey Jones just practices until the real battles." Splinter said gesturing to where Donnie and April were already sitting. Casey came to take a seat still mumbling about his loss.

While Donnie is surprized he lost he now has the opportunity to watch Mikeys moves more carefully as they go on to the next fight.

It was going to be Raph and Mikey with Leo fighting whoever wins.

"So Don you had to get tips from Mikey of all people?" Raph taunted while getting ready for his next fight.

"Shut up." Donnie muttered out.

Raph laughed as he heeded to his position. "Oh by the way Mikey don't think I will go easy on you just cause of your injury."

Mikey smiled at him. "I would never expect you to!"

They got in to position.

Raph and Mikey stared down at one another.

"Hajime."

Unlike Donnies own fight Raph was able to land the first hit on Mikey immediately kicking him the chest. Mikey stumbled before doing a back flip to avoid Raphs second charge and landing on his feet this time.

Mikey quickly flung the chains of his chucks around Raph similar to how he did with Donnie. Expect Raph did not get tied up like Donnie instead Raph grabbed the chains and pulled Mikey towards him. Mikey seemed shocked at first but took this chance to use the momentum of being dragged towards Raph to body slam himself in to him once he was close enough.

Raph stumbled back still holding on to the chain which also made Mikey stumble. But he quickly regained balance and pulled on the chain to make Raph fall forward.

Donnie thought the match was over until Raph jumped and charged with his sais at Mikey. Mikey didn't waste anytime to dance out of the way and on to Raphs right side where he kicked him. Quite similar to how a ballerina may kick out her foot when spinning.

The kick did not knock Raph down he immediately attempted to lunge at Mikey but he quickly dodged out of the way. They continued to this, with Mikey dancing out of the way whenever Raph would try to slash at him. Mikey moves being much more graceful than his usual fighting style.

Mikey eventually positioned himself to the right of Raph and before he could react extended his chains just enough that he could wrap them around Raphs hands with barely excess. Mikey than turned Raph towards him, slid under him while pulling at the chains flipping Raph over on to his back.

"Hajime." Splinter called.

Mikey undid his chains and Raph stood up, looking absolutely stunned from the loss lost.

"Well done Michaelangelo. But you need to not be afraid to get close to your opponents. Long range attacks on a opponent are not suited for your weapon."

Mikey held up a thumbs up and nodded. "Gotcha! Thank you for the advice."

Leo stood up and got ready for his fight with Mikey. Donnie had already gathered enough evidence. The increased strength, the changed fighting style, the ability to beat Raph with no taunts?

It was enough to prove to Donnie that something was really up with Mikey, be it one of his theories.

Leo and Mikey fight started in a similar fashion to Donnies own with Mikey throwing the chain at Leo but Leo dodged out of the way. Than pulled on the chain downward making Mikey fall to knees. Leo charged with one of his swords drawn slashing down. Mikey blocked it with his other chuck. Mikey than shoved himself backwards in to a roll.

Mikey landed on his feet in a crouching position with his chucks drawn.

But before ethier of them could strike Karais voice echoed through the lair.

"Leonardo I'm here!" She called as she entered.

Mikey head immediately turned around. Mikey seemed to be so focused on Karai at the doorway that he didn't notice Leo running at him and tackling him.

Mikey gasped and tapped on Leo's arm to let him go. Leo quickly stood up and offered Mikey a hand that he accepted.

"Sorry I shouldn't have tackled you when you were weren't paying attention."

Mikey smiled. "Its okay! You would do it against a real enemy so it made sense to do it to me."

Leo nodded. "I'm glad you see it that way."

Leo turned away from Mikey and ran up to Karai. "Hey Karai! Did you get my text?"

Karai raised an eyebrow. "What text?"

"The text I sent you? Not to long ago?"

Karai pulled out her phone, scrolled for a moment, before her face rapidly changed from neutral to surprised. She looked over Leos shoulder at Mikey before looking back at Leo.

"Is he okay?" Karai asks.

"No he has amnesia." Raph yells out from where he sat on the sides.

Karai rolls her eyes. "So how much does he remember? Does he remember me?"

"We haven't asked." Leo said with a shrug.

"Michaelangelo do you know who I am?"

Mikey at this point had taken a seat on the sides and wasn't looking at Karai. Keeping his eyes completely focused on the ground.

"Uh your Karai I think? Leo said you were coming. Sorry I don't remember you well."

Mikey voice was extremely quiet that you had to strain to hear him.

Karai looked weirded out by the juxtaposition to Mikeys usual personality. "Uh okay? Has he been like this the entire time."

"Eh more or less. He was different but not this different."

"Huh weird."

There were many other words Donnie would have used to describe Mikeys behavior at the moment. Timid came to mind. Which was odd. Sure Mikey personality changed after the injury but this?

Unforeseen.

Mikey didn't look at anyone staring at the ground. He was being quite formal with his language. His voice was barely even a whisper being much closer to short gasps.

To Donnie this was one of the most daming peices of evidence.

No one dwelled to much on Mikey odd behavior with Leo and Karai going straight in to there sparring match.

Donnie didn't pay much attention to Leo and Karai's match. He was more focused on categorize the information he collected today.

Mikey seemed to have increased strength, changed fighting style and unusual social responses. The social responses could be chalked up to the amnesia but the other two? They were stronger evidence for Donnie.

The increased strength some what pointed to Mikey being exposed to a new type of mutagen.

But when including the changed fighting style, the information on his bo staff, the changed behavior, the speech patterns and the increased strength.

Donnie was almost sure.

That this just might not be his Mikey.

Chapter Text

Leo and Karai fight came to an end after a long time, with both of them deciding to call it a draw. Everyone was dismisses and getting up to leave when Splinter called out.

"Michaelangelo could you stay here. I want to talk to you."

Mikey watched everyone else file out as he turned to face Splinter.

Mikey was nervous. Sure no one has figured anything out yet but Splinter was their father. He had raised this worlds Mikey, surely he would have picked up on something.

"Um what is you want to talk about?"

Truth be told Mikey didn't want to speak to anyone at the moment. After meeting Karai and being reminded of his own he felt completely drained. He very much did not want to be found out right at the moment.

This Karai didn't even look like Mikeys Karai but just hearing the name and seeing her alive was enough to send him spiraling.

"Are you feeling alright my son? You don't seem well?"

"Um I'm fine. Just y'know first day of training since the accident is a bit overwhelming."

Splinter nodded. "I see I am sorry for that. Well I just wanted to talk to you about your performance today."

Mikey bit his tongue.

He was so screwed.

"I am quite impressed with your skills you demonstrated today. But that does not come without its criticism." Mikey nodded along to Splinters words as he spoke. "You didn't utilize your weapon properly. It is built for close range combat but you only fought when you were far from others. You lacked much of your traditional technique. I was unsure what kind of what martial arts you were trying to use."

"I wasn't trying to use any sort of martial arts. I was just kinda doing what felt right."

Splinter raised an eyebrow. "Michaelangelo I know you don't always value training but you can not just ignore years of teachings in favor of what feels rights. You must practice proper discipline."

"I know! Its just.... I don't know I wanted to try something new? Is there anything wrong with that?"

"I suppose not. But you lacked almost all traditional technique. Is it possible that your amnesia may have effected everything you learned?"

"No! I still know everything! It's just... I wanted to be more creative with my fighting. Being stuck doing the same moves kinda limits you!"

Splinter hummed. "Would you mind expanding of that thought?"

"Its just when you incorporate different moves from many different sources your style becomes you own! And than it's harder to predict! I'm not discrediting more traditional stuff! But when you add your own flare it makes fighting much more fun! And and! It makes it harder for your enemies to see what's coming. Like one of the moves I did was from a ballet routine I saw! I just sorta modified it for fighting! And now one ever saw it coming. "

Splinter stared down at Mikey for a moment before laughing. He than patted Mikey on the head

"Good point my son. Quite a unique way of thinking about it."

Mikey grinned up at Splinter.

(Much like his brothers Mikey craved positive reinforcement for an parental age adult.)

"Thank you!"

Splinter removed his hand and nethier of them spoke. Mikey didn't know if he was allowed to go or if he had to stay until dismissed.

Both of them stood in silence for awhile as Mikey scanned the room. This eyes landed on a portrait of a family composed of a women, a man and a baby. Deciding that's a good conversation changer from Mikeys rant he pointed to it.

"Who are the people in the picture?"

Splinter sighed and walked over to the frame, Mikey followed. "My old family before I became a rat."

"Oh." Mikey looked down. His Splinter didn't really have a family before them. Sure he had Grandpa Sho but he had pushed him away long before his transformation. Besides Big Mama and a few of the people of his managing team he wasn't really close with anyone.

"What happened to them?"

Splinter picked up the photo. "The women, my wife, Tang Shen, died in a fire set by the Shredder. The baby, my daughter, Miwa, is now Karai."

Mikey blinked.

Pause.

So Shredder set a fire killing Splinters wife.

Is the Shredder a demon in this universe? Or maybe a vengeful spirit? Why was Miwa now called Karai? Did she change it? And if she was Splinter daughter why didn't she live with Splinter? Also she was Splinter daughter?

These questions and many more spun in Mikeys head. This little bit of information was making Mikey rethink everything might've been true about this universe compared to his own.

"Oh um I'm sorry about your wife."

Splinter put the photo down and touched the top of Mikey head with a sad chuckle.

"It is okay my son. I have a new life. I am happy with you and your brothers. I love you all."

Mikey fiddled with his fingers, refusing to look up.

Mikey felt terrible.

He had just taken such a sweet and genuine moment away from Splinter and his real son.

Making his every present guilt grow.

"Uh okay. But if you miss them and want to talk about it. I'm here."

Mikey looked up to see that Splinter had a shocked look on his face, that quickly morphed in to amusement.

"You don't have to worry about me like that my son. It's not your job to worry about me. You need to worry about what you feel."

And for some reason something in Mikey broke.

He had never been told anything like that.

He always felt like he had to keep everyones emotions in check.

He had to make sure everyone else was functioning.

He had to make sure everyone was stable.

To be told he should worry about himself first.

It felt unreal.

The few times Mikey thought of himself first it had resulted with Mikey being betrayed and manipulated.

One of the times leaving him feeling like a stupid little kid who wanted to spend time with his idol but ended up with him being a huge ass.

Mikey had been so stupid and selfish.

Mikey felt tears well up in his eyes as he threw himself at this Splinter for a hug.

Whenever Mikey put himself first he was almost always left disappointed, embarrassed or just feeling a sense of everything being his fault.

Splinter lightly patted his back as Mikey cried. Mikey didn't know how long he stayed like that, sobbing into the robe of an alternate dimension version of his father that he had just stolen a genuine moment from him and his real.

But he didn't care.

Mikey let himself have this.

Just once.

Mikey exited the dojo soon after that. He payed his respects to Splinters wife before leaving. Which left a small smile on the old rats face.

When Mikey came in to the main room everyone was around the couch causally talking to one another. Mikey slowly approached and took a seat on the couch.

Karai turned to him as soon as he sat down. "Michaelangelo I've informed Leatherhead of your.....ailment. He wants to come visit and check on you."

Mikey tilted his. "Who is Leatherhead?"

"The guy who likes to pick me up by the head and shake me like a rag doll!"

"Let it go Donnie. Let it go." Raph said as he patted Donnie on the shoulder.

"Leatherhead is an alligator mutant that you befriended. He is part of the Mutant Animals. Does any of this ring a bell?"

Mikey shook his head. "No sorry I don't remember anything along those lines."

Casey snorted. "So you remembered Karai more than Leatherhead? Oh my god."

April rolled her eyes at him. "How did you even contact him so quick? I didn't think he would have a phone."

Donnie smiled, interjecting himself in to the conversation. "I gave him and all of the Mutant Animals a t-phone in case of an emergency."

Karai turned back to Mikey. "So should I tell him yes or a no?"

Mikey shrunk in to himself. "Um I think yes? If he was a good friend of mine I should see him."

"Hey you don't have to if you don't feel up for it." Leo said resting his hand on Mikeys shell.

"No I should. Plus it could be fun!"

Leo sighed. "Okay as long as you're sure."

Mikey nodded. Karai pulled out her phone. "Great I will let him know."

Mikey tried to smile. He felt bad about lying to more people about who he was but he didn't really have a choice. They may start to get suspicious if he didn't say yes. Even with the amnesia excuse Mikey is pretty sure they might start catching on.

Plus it would give him a chance to get to know the world a bit better.

Understand who he could and couldn't trust.

Who were the villains and who weren't.

Maybe even he'll find a way to get home!

Yeah there was no way this could go wrong.

Karai said that Leatherhead would be coming the next day which came much quicker than Mikey was expecting. He wasn't mentally prepared to have to face this worlds Mikeys friend and say he didn't remember him.

The idea made Mikey stomach tangle with guilt and fear. His emotions felt like they were building in his throat and would soon spill out.

Mikey sat in the main room anxiously waiting. Leo had come over and joined him. Reminding Mikey that Leatherhead wouldn't be mad at all and he would understand. Which helped a little but didn't make Mikey forget the fact that he was gonna have to lie to his face just like everyone else.

"I can tell you Mikey everything is going to be fine."

Mikey smiled at him. "How can you be sure?"

"Cause Leatherhead and you were eachothers first real friends. He could never be mad cause you got injured and can't remember him. He'll understand I promise."

Mikey smiled.

That made him feel a bit better.

Mikey was about to respond when he heard a gruff unfamiliar voice.

"Turtles I have arrived."

Leo immediately stood up from the couch turning towards the voice and smiled. "Leatherhead! It's good to see you!"

"You as well Leonardo. Is Mikey here?"

"Yep he's just a bit nervous! Mikey come out and say hi."

Mikey slowly pulled himself from where he had buried himself on the couch and stood up. Leatherhead face flashed a sour look before it quickly turned more neutral.

"It is good to see Michaelangelo. Will your brothers be sticking around?"

Leo shook his head. "Sorry we were going to go patrol it's been a week since we did so." Leo patted Mikey on the. "Good luck."

And with that Leo left. He was going to catch up with the others who had already left only a little bit before.

Mikey stood there awkwardly looking down. Unsure of what to say.

Mikey was getting ready to speak when suddenly Mikey felt a large force barrel in to him. Knocking the air completely out of him. He was than pinned down by giant hand.

Mikey looked up to see the face of Leatherhead staring down at him. His large claws squeezing Mikeys body.

"Where is he?"

The claw squeezed Mikey body. Mikey gasped in pain and in a desperate attempt to get air.

"Where is who?" The words were chocked out between futile attempts to retain oxygen in his lungs.

"The real Michaelangelo?"

Chapter Text

Mikey

Mikey was to busy trying to get air in to his lungs that he didn't register what was being said at first until Leatherhead repeated it.

"Where is Michaelangelo?"

Mikey tried to answer the question but nothing was able to escape his throat except gasps for air.

Leatherhead must have taken this as Mikey choosing not awnser the question cause he was soon squeezing harder.

Mikey tried to think.

He couldn't die here for many reasons.

One this wasn't his dimension.

Two if he died here other Mikey would never get home.

Three his brothers of this dimension would never know their real brother is alive and well and that their mourning a phony.

There were definitely more reasons but Mikey had a bigger issues to worry about.

Like how he was getting out of this.

"Talk." Leatherhead growled out.

Mikey tried to speak but nothing came out. He tried get Leatherheads hand off of him. Prying at what little advantage he had. He kept squirming to get away from Leatherhead but nothing worked.

That's when suddenly an idea struck Mikey. It would maybe make explaining everything a bit harder than he would like but at this point?

Mikey didn't care.

Mikey angled the palm of his hand so it was resting on Leatherheads own hand.

Mikey thought hard.

Directing his mystic energy all to that spot. He could begin to feel his hand heat up. It didn't feel that hot to Mikey but it must have felt so to Leatherhead cause his hand realsed his grasp on Mikey. Stumbling backwards in pain.

Mikey quickly sat up and tried to get as much air in to his lungs as possible. Leatherhead angrily stared at Mikey as he shook off the pain. Leatherhead went to charge Mikey but Mikey held up his hand that still glowed from mystic energy.

"Let's talk this out." Mikey growled out. He was still in pain from being squeezed for hard but he didn't want to show it.

Leatherhead seemingly not wanting to be burned again stopped where he was and sat down. Mikey did the same and breathed in.

"What do you want to know?"

Leatherhead grumbled. "Everything."

So Mikey explained everything from how he was from a different dimension. To being mistaken for the real Michaelangelo (leaving out the whole drugging part), to not having enough mystic energy to send himself home.

Leatherhead listened intently to everything Mikey had to say. When he was finished Mikey looked at the alligator. He hadn't realized during his whole story he didn't look at him once.

"So the Mikey I know is safe?"

Mikey slowly nodded. "He should be. I wasn't by anything dangerous before I came here."

Leatherhead hummed. "That sounds like a stressful week. How are you been taking this all?"

Mikey let out a long sigh. "It could be much worse. At least I know I can probably get home. But this dimension mystic energy is....hard to access. I don't know how long or how much I will need to get myself back."

Leatherhead nodded. "You are handling this quite well for your age. But I must ask, why lie to the others?"

Mikey shrugged. "I had no way of knowing how they would feel about their brother going missing. They could've reacted badly and attacked me or thrown me out of the lair in a new dimension I knew nothing about."

Leatherhead raised the alligator equivalent to an eyebrow. "Would your brothers do that to an alternative version of you in a similar situation?"

"What? No! Never!"

"Than why would you assume they would?"

Mikey looked down to his lap. "I don't know.... This is a new place that so much darker than mine... Like in a literal sense this place is much less vibrant than my world. I guess I was just scared." Mikey pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them.

Leatherhead hummed. "I understand what it is like to do things you don't totally understand when you're scared."

Mikey smiled. "You kinda remind me of my Raph."

Leatherhead tilted his head. "I do?"

"Yeah! My Raph is always so good at relating to others and not making them feel bad about themselves! You also kinda look like him..In size I mean."

Leatherhead tail swoshed behind him. "Interesting he sounds much different from our Raph. I don't suppose your Raph goes in to blind fits of rage were attacks people like I do?"

Mikey smiled once more unfurling his body. "Actually yeah! Well he hasn't in a while. We call it Savage Raph! He almost ate two of our villains last time!"

Leatherhead eyes widen. Mikey than realized what that sounded like. He waved his hands in front of him. "But he didn't!"

Leatherhead gave a small laugh. "That seems quite interesting. But I want to know are you going to tell them?"

Mikey body wilted. "I don't know. I feel bad I've been pretending to be their brother for so long. I can barely deal with the guilt. I just want to go home and get their Mikey back here without them ever knowing. I'm aware it's a bit selfish but I would prefer if they never knew I was here and think that it's actually just been there brother the whole time."

Leatherhead nodded. "If that is what you want I'll respect your decision and not say anything."

Mikey looked up at him. "Thank you."

"Of course. What are friends for?"

Mikey smiled.

Mikey spent the next hour just talking about his own world with Leatherhead. How much he missed it and what it was like compared to this world.

Leatherhead listened intently to everything, occasionally commenting on something about Mikeys home dimension.

Mikey should have used this time to find out more on this world but he was so wrapped up in finally having someone he could share his secret with he forgot to ask Leatherhead much of anything.

He did learn that the Shredder was currently MIA but his lackeys were still out and about. The you know who were still around as well (Krang).

Nethier of them referred to them by their actual name.

"Oh by the way." Mikey asked. "How did you known I wasn't the real Mikey."

Leatherhead hummed. "You did not smell like him."

Mikey nodded. "I guess that makes sense."

Mikey absent mindy touched the upper part of his arm and hissed in pain. He looked down at his to see what could've caused the sudden unpleasant feeling. Mikey saw bruises forming on his upper arm in the shape of Leatherhead hand.

Leatherhead raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?"

Mikey nodded. "Yeah just bruises from earliers um......mix up. "

Leatherhead looked down. "I would like to apologize for that."

Mikey grinned at him. "Don't. I can fix it like that!" Mikey snapped his fingers to demonstrate his point.

Mikey held up to his hand to his bicep and let the mystic energy flow through him, letting the healing spell Draxum taught him be the only thing on his mind.

A bright glow started to admit from his hands. Slowly it washed away the forming bruises. Mikey switched hands and held his hand to his other bicep.

Mikey hadn't looked at Leatherhead at first but when he did alligators eyes were widened in amazement.

"That is quite a neat trick."

Mikey laughed. "Thanks!"

"If I may ask is it hard to do?"

Mikey shook his head. "It use to be. I had a difficult time knowing when i should stop. It use to be kinda draining. But now it feels like second nature."

Leatherhead hummed. "And I can assumed Draxum taught you that?"

Mikey had mentioned Draxum when he was ranting about his timeline. Talking on how he went from their biggest enemy to Mikeys second dad. Leatherhead seemed skeptical of Draxum at first but Mikey quickly reassured him that he was a good guy. And that he was even teaching him about the mystic arts.

Mikey smiled. "Yeah he did! I'm glad you were paying attention!" Mikey moved his hand to his leg and started to heal those bruises.

Leatherhead nodded. "Of course your world sounds quite interesting."

"It is! I can't wait to go back."

Leatherhead tilted his head. "Do you think you will be able to?"

"I hope so. I want to go home. I got here I'm sure I can get back!"

"If you are sure. Just do not be scared to ask the turtles for help. I'm sure they want there brother back as much as you want to go home."

Mikey looked down. "Yeah your right. But I'm sure I can do it! I'm a powerful mystic warrior!"

Mikey told himself that over and over again during the invasion.

He was a powerful mystic warrior.

He couldn't die. No one in his family would die.

Future him survived until the end (he didn't learn until later how he died).

So if him in the future could survive why couldn't he? That's what he told himself when he opened the portal as his body ripped apart in front of his very eyes.

Future him did it.

Why couldn't Mikey do it?

Why couldn't he be as good as older him?

Why couldn't he do it now?

Well apparently he could.

And future him couldn't. He died.

Mikey now didn't.

So what does that say about him now?

Is he better then future him?

Mikey wanted to be like future him.

Junior had told Mikey about future him.

How he could summon mystic chains and powerful bursts of lights that could take out large amounts of krang dogs without even trying. How he could rewind objects to a previous state saving the rebellion from needing to worry about clothes and shelter.

That it had been second nature for him to do.

But Mikey struggled to even rewind time on a ice cube. He had only done it after hours of trying and even than it was a pathetic attempt with it barely working. Summoning chains had become better but he could barely do anything with them.

So what does that really say about Mikey?

How useful is he?

How strong is he?

Why couldn't he be like future him.

Is he worse or is he better?

Leatherhead chuckled. "You seem well on your way to being one."

And maybe that just exactly what Mikey needed to hear.

The others returned not long after that.

They mentioned how the patrol wasn't very active and no big bads were really out.

"How was everything?" Leo asked with Donnie standing right beside him staring at Leatherhead hand intensely. Probably watching to see if he would grab him by the head like what had been described to Mikey.

Leatherhead smiled. "It was quite nice catching up with Mikey."

Mikey nodded in agreement.

He liked talking to Leatherhead.

He was a good listener.

Everything seemed to going smooth all of them talking with one another in pleasant conversation. Until Raph who had more or less not paying attention suddenly pointed to Leatherheads hand.

"Dude what happened?"

Mikey looked where he pointed and was met with what looked vaguely looked like a three fingered hand burn mark that Mikey had not previously seen.

Shit.

Leatherhead didn't react he just shrugged. "Accident on a mission. Nothing to worry about."

Before anyone could ask any more questions Mikey loudly cut in. "Well I'm gonna see Leatherhead out. Bye!"

Mikey grabbed Leatherhead wrist and rushed to the exit.

When they got far enough away Mikey sighed. "Sorry for that I panicked."

Leatherhead hummed. "You are fine my friend."

"I can heal it for you. It would be good as new!"

Leatherhead sighed. "Only if you are sure."

Mikey nodded and held out his hand. Leatherhead did the same and Mikey rested his hand on Leatherheads, letting his mystic energy flow through him.

Mikey had used up a lot while healing himself. Which he should stop doing. He needed to save as much as possible if he wanted even a chance of going home not in golden shards.

Burning Leatherhead hand and healing someone besides Mikey made healing Leatherhead much harder than it usually would have been.

Mikey pushed through.

He wasn't use to healing people besides himself. Mikey tried heal Leo while he was recovering to get Leo at full strength but it almost resulted with Mikey in a coma.

Draxum yelled for a long time about how he should take it slow and not heal big injuries all at once. Esspically at his skill level.

On the bright side Leo did heal twice as fast as he would have. Getting him back on his feet much sooner than anyone could have predicted.

Once Mikey had finished healing Leatherhead he wobbled a bit before catching himself.

Healing himself was no big deal.

Much easier.

With healing himself it was kinda like a car. How when you press the accelerator it recharges the battery of the car. Mikey is pretty sure that's how cars work.

With others it was like taking that accelerators energy and putting it in a different car. It drains the car until the car can recharge.

Mikey could get better with practice but because of his little incident with Leo he wasn't allowed to practice at all.

Leatherhead put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Mikey smiled up at the alligator. "Better than ever."

Mikey was getting a little dizzy but nothing compared to the first time he did it. He physically could not move from the floor where he fell after healing Leo.

Stuck there in exhaustion, he was so weak he couldn't even close his eyes to sleep.

So Mikey thinks this is a big improvement.

Leatherhead let go of Mikeys shoulder. "If you are sure."

Mikey grinned. "It was nice meeting you. I hope I can see you again soon."

Leatherhead gave a small chuckle. "I as well."

And with that they both went to there respective ways.

Donnie

Donnie sat in his lab staring at his large chalk board.

Nothing had been adding up and tonight had just made it so much worse.

Donnie spent most of the patrol thinking of what kind of tests he could do with (fake) Mikey without him getting suspicious.

Donnie spent the time they were out there just thinking about what information he needed.

Donnie had crafted perfect test after perfect test.

All that went out the window when he saw Leatherhead hand.

To anyone it may just seem like a normal burn.

But not to Donnie.

Donnie had stared at it before Raph even pointed it out. And was confused when Leatherhead said it was from a mission earlier.

Because it was fresh.

And vaguely looked like a three fingered hand.

The burn couldn't have been less than 12 hours old and he was pretty sure there were no Mighty Mutanimals missions in that time frame.

And once it was pointed out Mikey immediately dragged the large alligator away.

It was......suspicious to say the least.

Raph and Leo more or less brushed it off.

But not Donnie.

He knew something was wrong.

Really wrong.

So he rushed to his lab. Writing down all the test he had wanted to do in the upcoming weeks. All of them needed to be shoved in to a two day time slot because it seems people are starting to get hurt by this faker.

And one of the may be his brother.

He has no idea what happened to the real Mikey.

Donnie wrote the evidence he had so far on his chalk board. Mutagen samples and the other DNA samples he had yet to analyze.

His fighting from the other day.

The burn mark.

None of these would be enough to convince his brothers.

Donnie knew he needed more.

He thought he had more time.

But he doesn't.

Donnie took out a notebook and scribbled in it.

'Mikey Tests.'

Donnie had a lot of work to do.

And so little time to do it.

Chapter Text

By the next day Donnie had modified all of his tests to be able to do in a two day time span.

The first one you may wonder?

Taste buds.

Mikey had very specific...... food habits.

Donnie theory is that they should remain the same.

Although he had to possibly considered possible brain damage effecting how food is perceived by the brain, but this was still a good place to start his research.

Donnie woke up early and got to work. He needed to get up before Mikey got up. Mikey would get up much earlier than everyone to make himself breakfast. He wasn't allowed to make it for anyone else. Ever since the incident with the glass Mikey has been temporarily banned from cooking for everyone so he just cooked for himself.

Donnie started to gather what he needed.

Mikey liked..... An interesting variety of foods.

Usually it seemed to be random stuff put together. Edible and inedible.

Donnie has seen the many many gross recipies that Mikey has made. So it shouldn't be to hard to emulate.

Donnie decided to make a pizza it was Mikeys favorite and he could never say no to a pizza.

Donnie threw on everything he could recall Mikey ever putting on his own pizzas. Dirt with worms, frozen cheese, marshmallows, jelly beans and much much more. Including the classics of cheese and sauce.

Once Donnie was done he had to try not smell his abomination he gagged whenever he got a whiff.

Mikey walked in not to long after he finished. Mikey said nothing about the smell.

A good start.

"Hey Donnie did you try to make something?"

Donnie smiled. "Yep! It's one of your favorites."

Mikey face contorted in to a sour expression. "Is that so?"

Donnie nodded. "Oh yeah, you love this. I thought giving you something from before your amnesia might help jog your memory."

Mikey face scrunched up. "Oh really?"

Donnie nodded before sliding the pizza dish over. "Have some."

Mikey cautiously picked up a slice. "Um you sure I liked this?"

A grin spreads across Donnies face. "Positive."

Mikey examined it before putting it to his mouth biting in to it and swallowing.

Mikeys immediately looked sick. He had put down the pizza and placed his head on the counter.

"Is something wrong?" Donnie asked.

"Nope nothing at all. It's great."

"I would be really sad if you didn't. I put a lot of effort in to it."

Mikey forced a smile on his face. "It won't."

"Are any memories being brought up?"

Mikey shook his head. "No."

"Than you should take another bite."

Mikey face greener than usual but he compiled to Donnies suggestion and took another bite. His face contorting as he swallowed.

Donnie smiled at him. "Well I'm glad you like it. Let me know it any memories come up. I hope your able to eat the whole thing. I'm going to the lab for a bit."

Donnie walked out and left Mikey there with the pizza.

Not even ten minutes later he heard sprinting and someone throwing up. He than saw Mikey walking with a slight stumble looking much more drained than he had last time Donnie saw him.

Donnie counted this test as a success.

Donnie next test was for Mikeys fighting.

Or more accurately his ability to not think and fight.

The whole skill seemed completely instinctual. So even with the amnesia he should still be able to do it.

Or that was Donnies theory at least.

It was later in the day. Mikey seemed to have recovered from the food he ate earlier and was back up to be doing well.

Donnie had found him in the dojo, mediating.

Donnie lightly tapped him on the shoulder.

"Oh hey Don what's up?" Mikey said opening his eyes smiling like he didn't just throw up hours before because of Donnie.

"I wanted you to test a new training exercise for me."

Mikey grin widened. "Sure! Happy to help!"

Mikey stood up and moved to the mat, taking out his chucks. "So what is it?"

Donnie pulled out headphones and smiled. "You close your eyes and put these on. Its suppose to sharpen your instincts."

Mikey tilted his head. "You sure this will be helpful?"

Donnie nodded and smiled. "Positive."

Donnie put the headphones on Mikey and turned of the music. Mikey closed his eyes and held out his chucks, standing in a ready position.

Donnie lunged at him. Regular Mikey would have effortlessly danced out of but this one immediately got taken to the ground.

"You okay?" Donnie asked helping Mikey up.

Mikey smiled. "I'm fine. Let's try it again."

Donnie could tell as they kept going that this Mikey didn't seem to be able to shut down his brain and function on instinct like the real Mikey could.

After what couldn't have been more than half an hour Donnie attacking Mikey. Mikey called it quits.

"Sorry." He said taking the headphones off. "I just don't think I'm very good at this."

"Its fine. We can try again another day."

Mikey slowly nodded and walked out.

Donnie smiled to himself.

Maybe you could say the recent head injury was effecting Mikeys ability to fight without thinking but Donnie checked his head and almost all the damge had been healed.

The only thing that seemed to remain was the amnesia. Which also really doesn't make sense so hes going to have to add that to his evidence pile. Along with everything he just learned.

Donnie returned to his lab and started organizing everything he's found out so far.

Most things he has collected revolved around instinct since any evidence around personality changes could easily be chalked up to amnesia.

Donnie took all his notes and placed them in a folder. He still had a few more tests he needed to run through. But he didn't want Mikey to start getting to suspicious.

If he consistently keeps testing him each day like this Mikey may sense something is up. Exposing Donnies whole operation.

On the other hand Mikey claims to remember very little only the fact that he had brothers. So Mikey would be none the wiser to the actions.

Except he hadn't done anything like that the week after Mikey got his injury. But that could easily be excuseed as wanting Mikey to heal before settling in to a normal routine.

Donnie sighed and span in his chair. This was getting to confusing he needed to rethink his strategy.

He knew next he wanted to test Mikeys reaction to danger or more accurately his flight or fight response. But as he had done more research he had found that concussions could alter those responses.

Donnie spread out all of the papers his evidence was on. He still had tests to run but he needed to start double checking his information before moving forward. Donnie didn't want to do tests that could be explained away with the amnesia excuse. He started to rearrange his paper. First by emotional differences than by any physical differences that shouldn't have been altered, like his DNA samples.

Donnie was so caught up in his work he didn't notice that Leo had enter his lab until he was standing right by Donnie peaking over his shoulder.

"Hey Donnie what you. Whoa."

Donnie spun around in his chair to see his blue brother and sighed.

"Hello Leo."

"Hi Donnie. What's all of this?"

Donnie spun back around. "My research."

"On Mikey?"

"Yes."

"Donnie this doesn't seem.........right."

Donnie kept his eyes trained on his papers. "Leo nothing has been right with Mikey. There's something wrong."

Leo huffed. "He has amnesia Don he's not gonna act he did before."

Donnie scowled. "I know that Leo. But this runs deeper. Much deeper."

"Are you sure your not looking to far in to this?"

"I don't think I'm looking in to it far enough. You don't think anything is weird? Like theres something more? Like that isn't our Mikey?"

Leo thought for a second. "Well he's been weird but its just from the amnesia. I'm sure in a few weeks we will have the old Mikey back."

If this Mikey didn't kill him and take his place.

Which was a morbid thought on Donnies part but he couldn't help it. What else could have happened to Donnie's brother? He desperately didn't want it to be true but he had to prepare himself for the worse possible outcome.

"Sure Leo." Donnie looked back to his papers.

Ignoring Leo.

Leo took a hard breath. "Anyways. I'm just letting you know we're leaving for patrol soon."

And that's the last thing Leo said before leaving.

This was good news for Donnie. He wanted to do some tests while on patrol on Mikey.

Donnie placed his papers back in to folder neatly. And headed for the door ready to collect more data on the imposter.

Mikey

"Wait really!"

Donnie nodded. "Yes you should be good to go on patrol with us."

"And you are sure hes all clear?" Leo asked.

"Yes he is."

Leo glared back before sighing. "Fine if you're sure."

Donnie smiled. "Positive."

Mikey hasn't been outside in days. He felt like he was going crazy in the grimy sewers. He was usually never stuck in his home for this long, at least not since he was a kid. In the past few years almost every night him and his brothers would go out and do something. Which made it much harder for Mikey to be stuck in one place.

When they arrived to the surface Mikey was greeted with almost completely empty streets. He knew how barren this place was the first time he snuck out but it was still creepy.

In his world the streets would be filled with crowds upon crowds in to the early hours of the morning.

That's why it's called the city that never sleeps!

But this city?

It's like the only thing this city does is sleep.

When they got to the first rooftop he decided to ask about it. "Why are their no people on the street."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"This is like one of the biggest cities in the world and there's like no people out ever!"

"Why would people be out during the night?" Donnie asked.

"Uh cause it's New York?"

Raph laughed. "Well it seems we are  getting the old empty headed Mikey back."

Empty headed?

Is that what they think of him?

Is that what everyone thinks of him?

It's a small stupid comment simple, teasing really but for some reason its sticking to Mikey.

"Raph knock it off. We have a job to do." Leo said as he turned and jumped to the next roof.

The rest of them followed. Mikey quickly shook off his thoughts about the insult, deciding he will not allow it to interfere with his patrol.

They jumped around for quite a bit. Apparently tonight had been a slow night. None of the usual villains were out causing havoc like they usually do.

They had been jumping around for about 2 hours to basically no crimes. They stopped on a roof top to discuss.

"Nothing is happening maybe we should head back?" Donnie commented.

Leo rolled his eyes. "We should stay out for a little bit longer. Something could go down!"

Raph grunted. "Leo nothing is gonna happen. If something was gonna happen it would have happened by now."

That's when Mikey noticed a small group of men, only four, on a roof top not far. They were all varying sizes each holding items that looked quite expensive.

Mikey pointed his finger towards them. "Is that something?"

The brothers spun around to where Mikey pointed.

"Of course they chose to show up now." Raph grumbled.

"Raph it's just the Purple Dragons we can handle them just fine." Leo said as he jumped to the next roof.

Purple Dragons?

"I know that! Just why couldn't they have done this earlier!" Raph than followed Leo. The rest of them following.

Mikey wasn't super familiar with the Purple Dragons of his own world but he definitely knew they weren't a street gang that mostly consisted of men.

Which was odd for Mikey to comprehend to say the least. The few times Mikey actually was involved with a Purple Dragons fight they had been led by Kendra (Mikey is pretty sure that's her name) who was not a man.

"Oh hell it's you freaks." One of the men said as they all arrived to the roof, positioning themselves on the edge.

Ouch. Mikey wasn't really use to hearing that term despite how he may look. Most of the people they fought were mutants and accepted that or people who were very unsure of what they were. Just assuming they were some weird kids in costumes.

"Hell yeah it is! And we're gonna beat your asses!"

"Hey Raph? Maybe don't agree to the whole 'freak' comment." Leo pointed out.

"Whatever. We've been called worse." Raph said jumping at the closest man who already had his weapon drawn.

Leo shrugged before lunging at the second closest. Donnie rolled his eyes before jumping in to the fray.

Mikey quickly followed the lead, not getting close and throwing his chain to wrap around the fourth Purple Dragon who wore an oversized trench coat.

The Purple Dragon looked taken off guard by the sudden chain cocoon he found himself in. Mikey than whipped them in to the side of the stairwell that had a slight shed on the roof that the men had exited from earlier.

Mikey was kinda hoping that would be enough but they quickly stood back up.

"Why don't you fight me closer huh? To scared?"

Mikey rolled his eyes. He knew it was just bait to get him closer so the Purple Dragon would have a better chance of winning.

"I guess their right you are the stupid one. Can't even figure out how to get close to an opponent."

Oh this man should be thanking God above that Mikey can't use his mystic powers without blowing his cover.

This is just way of them to get to Mikeys insecurities. That mostly stemmed from not being granted much independence growing up, always having help.

Mikey growing to believe his family didn't think he was a competent enough to do stuff on his own.

Than Mikey being convinced his family thought he was stupid and couldn't do anything without help.

And Mikeys issues getting worse surrounding independence as time went on.

Mikey just felt like everyone saw him as an idoit who needed everyones help. And if he asked for help with anything be it the smallest of things he would just confirming what everyone thinks.

Hes not as smart as everyone else.

Their doing him a favor and he should be grateful.

That he is much dumber that he needed constant help and pity to do anything.

Well he doesn't.

Cause Mikey would rather fail over and over again than admit he needed help.

That they were right.

That he was stupid.

Mikey didn't dwell to much on the comment immediately pulling his chain back to himself and swinging it again. This time instead of ensnaring the man like before the Purple Dragon grabbed the chain and yanked Mikey from where he was perched.

Mikey used the momentum of the man pulling him to kick him in the chest. The man quickly recovered but was still holding on to Mikeys chain. So in a similar move to the training session from the other day Mikey pulled on the chain until the man stumbled and fell at Mikeys feet.

Mikey kneeled down to the mans level to retrieve his chain from the mans hand that was still wrapped his weapon, assuming the Purple Dragon was out.

But unfortunately he was not. Turning his head up from where he face planted in the concrete.

The mans eyes met Mikeys as he pulled something out from the inside of his massive jacket that decked his frame.

A glint of some metallic caught Mikeys eye.

A knife

Shit.

Mikey didn't even let himself think. Before he knew it he had planted his hand on the non sharp part of the blade and pushed all of his mystic energy in to his hand.

In no time the knife was nothing more than a hot piece of metal that pathetic sagged in the mans hand.

The mans eyes widened before looking in to Mikeys once more. "What the hell?"

The man never got to finish what he was going to say because Mikey punched him in the face knocking him out. Than kicked the the knife off the roof before anyone else could see it.

When Mikey turned everyone else was just finishing up there own fights. Mikey walked over to where the rest of the turtles stood.

"So how was your first fight back Mikey?" Leo asked.

Mikey smiled at him. "So cool! A little easy though."

Raph laughed. "Well yeah! There the Purple Dragons even Donnie could take them on his own. Isn't that right Donnie?"

Donnie hadn't said anything. He had this blank sorta expression on his face as he stared at Mikey.

Mikey felt a chill crawl up his back.

Leo lightly nudged him. "Uh Donnie? You okay?"

Donnie shook his head. "Yes I am fine. And Raph. Shut up."

Raph snickered as he moved to start tying up the gang.

Once they were finished they headed off. Deciding to stay out for a little longer before heading back. Everytime they stopped Mikey felt as if someone was watching him.

He didn't figure out who until he had turned around to see that Donnie was staring at him and who quickly turned his gaze away when he noticed Mikey had caught him. Mikey didn't think to much of it. He may just be looking at Mikey since it was first night back and he wanted to see if he was okay.

Yeah that was probably it.

Donnie

Donnie couldn't stop staring at Mikey.

Not after what he saw.

When they were on the roof Donnie had, out of the corner of his eye, saw a glint of the knife being held by Mikeys opponent. He was about to move to help Mikey and ignore his own fight but Donnie saw an orange glow. Than before he knew it the knife was gone and the man was knocked out.

No one else seemed to have seen it.

Both Raph and Leo were on the other side of the roof.

Only Donnie saw it.

Donnie didn't say anything the entire rest of the patrol. He just stared at Mikey or more accurately the not Mikey.

This was the nail in the coffin for Donnie. He now had undeniable proof that something was up with Mikey.

No more tests were needed.

Donnie saw the glow for sure.

And Raph would have to believe him.

As soon as they got back Donnie rushed to his lab.

This was the last thing Donnie needed.

He quickly jotted down notes on the glowing before rushing to Raphs room and banging on the door.

Raph threw the door open with a scowl. "What do you want? I was about to go to sleep."

"Mikey is not the real Mikey and I have proof." Donnie said quickly.

Raph blinked. "What?"

"Tonight on the roof I saw this weird glowing. It was coming from Mikeys hands and I don't think he is our Mikey I think he is a clone or a fake or something. And I've been gathering evidence and I have all the papers to prove it." Donnie rambled.

Raph blinked at him. "Donnie it's late can we do......whatever this is another time?"

"But I have proof! Loads of it please just listen!"

Raph sighed. "I will listen tomorrow. Until than I am sleeping."

Raph slammed the door in Donnies face.

Donnie growled to himself.

Fine.

Tomorrow Raph will hear everything.

So he'll be eating his words.

Donnie just had to wait.

Chapter Text

Raph

Raph flopped down on his bed.

Donnie was really starting to work a nerve. He had been going on about Mikey not being their real brother for days. When is he gonna drop it?

Raph turned over in his bed. Donnie's conspiracy theories were driving him up the crazy. Esspically with him wanting to use April's Krang powers on him. Which is like wrong on so many levels.

What really bothered Raph was how out of nowhere it was for Donnie.

Although to be fair Mikey was also acting strange.

But he has an excuse: his amnesia.

Which honestly? Raph was still a bit conflicted about.

On one hand. Raph really wanted his normal brother back. Amnesia Mikey was different. To put it lightly. He was less air headed than regular Mikey, much more perceptive of others. But he was also much more withdrawn than usual Mikey. He always seemed nervous about something.

Amnesia Mikey freaked Raph out. It gave him uncanny valley feeling.

On the other hand. Raph felt much calmer than he had in a while. He loves Mikey but he had a habit of pushing Raphs buttons just for the hell of it. Which on top of all the stress they endured mad Raph's anger so much worse. Amnesia Mikey said he hasn't done that (for the most part) and promised not to. Raph had also felt much more comfortable expressing his emotions. Like he didn't have to keep it all in so people wouldn't belittle him.

Raph felt more open. More free.

Raph grumbled to himself. Great. It took his youngest brother forgetting them all to get Raph to control his anger.

Fucking of course.

Cause nothing could be simple for Raph and his family. Which makes Raph terrible for finally some sense of calm at the cost of his little brothers health.

If their was some higher being they must have had a sick sense of humor to make Raph only feel good about his emotions when his brother wasn't even himself.

Why the fuck not?

Raph sighed. Whatever Donnie wants he'll just deal with it in the morning. Raph closed his eyes and drifted off.

When Raph woke up he immediately felt  the dread about talking to Donnie.

Raph knows how his brother can get when he thinks hes right.

Donnie can be..... obsessive. Which is the nicest way Raph could really put it.

Raph knows that this will probably lead nowhere. He knows that he won't be swayed.

Raph made his way in to the kitchen where Mikey was already making himself breakfast.

"Oh hey Raph. Do you want me to make you something?"

Raph shrugged and grabbed an apple. "Nah I'm good."

Mikey nodded turned back to his creation. Raph let himself sink down in to his chair. Donnie would usually be up by now. And he definitely should be bugging Raph.

"Yo Mikey. Have you see Donnie."

Mikey shook his head. "No sorry. He may still be sleeping. Hes been staying up late recently. I think we should let him sleep."

Raph raised an eyebrow. "How did you know he was staying up late."

"When I've been getting up in the morning hes usually just going to bed."

Jesus christ Donnie is really committed to this.

Mikey came over with a plate of food, he than mumbled something about needing to restock the fridge.

"Have you noticed anything weird with Donnie?" Raph asked breaking Mikeys mumblings.

Mikey looked down. "I can't say I have. But I can check on him if you want me to when hes up."

Raph sighed. "Nah. Hes just being Donnie and obsessing over nothing."

"I can still check on him if you want -."

Raph interrupted him. "Mikey drop it."

And Mikey did, before the amnesia he would never. Mikey would keep poking and prodding. Sure they had an agreement to stop pushing one another but this was weird. Mikey was much more nervous than he was before.

More drawn in.

More aware.

It was weird.

"Hey. If you need something fun to do we can go painting again?" Mikey said making Raph thoughts stop spiraling.

Raph grumbled. "Are we gonna have to have an emotional conversation again?"

Mikey giggled and shook his head. "Not unless you want too!"

Raph shrugged. "Fine sure why not."

Mikey grinned. "We can leave whenever you want! I just need to check on Leo first!"

Raph rolled his eyes. "Why do you need to check on Leo exactly?"

"I wanna make sure he doesn't over work himself! Hes been in the dojo since before I was awake." Mikey said as he picked up his plate and rinsed in the sink before speeding off.

Raph didn't know what to think. Why does Mikey need to make sure Leo wasn't putting to much himself? Leo does that all the time. Sure it isn't right but he does it all the time. And was Mikey was also helping Leo just like Raph? Seems out of character to be so outwardly helpful. Mikey just kinda did whatever in the moment he thought would help.

But this?

It was calculated.

Planed.

Well crafted.

Like Mikey perfectly thought out everything.

Huh.

Odd.

But Raph has definitely seen odder. Esspically from Mikey the last few days. Raph does hope this amnesia thing ends soon and they can get the old Mikey back. Sure he appreciated the help. And hes actually really happy that they had finally started talking about their issues.

But he misses his fun loving brother. Amnesia Mikey was so tense.....Sure he was still loud mouthed but he was much more....anxious.

Like hes expecting something bad to happen at all times.

Raph is also starting to get frustrated with Donnie. Mikey is going through something rough at the moment and Donnie wants to reach in his brain because hes got some kind of gut feeling?

Hell no.

Raph doesn't even think April wants to do it. That would be shitty not to just force their way in to his head but also force April to do something she didn't want to.

Raph put his head in his hands.

Maybe Raph really did need to do some painting.

Mikey

Mikey peaked in to the dojo where Leo had been training all morning. Mikey had heard him up a little before Mikey got up. Leo seemed to have gone straight to the dojo. Wit no wateror no breakfast.

Nothing.

That was not gonna slide with Mikey.

Mikey lightly knocked on the wall near the entrance. Catching Leo's attention, who was currently attacking an already beaten down dummie.

"Can I come in?"

Leo shrugged. "Sure."

Mikey came up next to Leo as he slashed at the practice dummie. His attacks on the already down dummie were becoming crazed, uncoordinated and wild. Mikey could see sweat forming on Leo skin as his breathing grew heavier. His eyes moved all over as of he was expecting to dummie to call in for back up.

Mikey lightly put his hand on his shoulder. "You need a break."

Leo sighed and smiled. "I appreciate the concern Mikey but I'm fine."

Leo weakly shrugged Mikeys hand off his shoulder as and went back to slicing up the dummie. Mikey took a deep breath. Mikey really wanted Leo to take a break and take care of himself just a little. His deranged attacks were out of character for this Leo. He was so calm and gentle albeit a bit of an odd guy at times. But in the short time that Mikey has known him this behavior was completely unrepresented. Mikey could tell this Leo had put a lot of pressure on himself similar to his Raph. It deeply concerned Mikey all this weight Leo was putting on himself.

Maybe it was all finally coming down.

And maybe Mikey could take just a little off for him.

Mikey, without thinking, grabbed Leo's mask tails and dragged Leo back to the side of the dojo.

"What Mikey!" Leo shouted as Mikey let go of his mask and moved so he was standing in front of Leo.

"Sorry that was a bit to direct. But you need a break."

Leo rolled his eyes and than smiled, similar to how he did earlier. "Mikey don't worry about me. I'm fine."

Mikey stared up at him. "Sure you are. But you could at least eat this apple. It's the last one and I don't think anyone else will and I would hate for it to go to waste."

Leo sighed but patted Mikey on the head. "Okay I'll eat apple and take a break." Leo took to apple out of Mikey's hand and took a seat

Mikey clapped his hands in excitement and sat down next to Leo. "Yay! Thank you so much."

The whole "no one else is going to eat the food and it will go to waste" was a tactic Mikey used often on his own brothers. Growing up with unsteady source of food made his family much more aware of what they had I terms of food and what they didn't. They never wanted to waste food since they didn't know when they could get some next.

As they got older and Donnie was able to secure a stable flow of money (that was totally not accumulated by draining the accounts of billionaires just enough they wouldn't notice, no siree) they were able to actually afford wasting food but none of them really felt good about doing so. Mikey notice this, so now if he needs to get his brothers to eat he'll just slyly mentions something related to some food in the fridge about to go bad and before he knows it his brothers have already finished it.

Mikey knows it's a dirty trick but his family is stubborn and forgets the most basic of needs half the time so whatever works, works.

Mikey hugged Leo once he finished he looked a bit shocked but quickly accepted it patting him on the head again.

Mikey smiled up at him. "Thank you."

Leo mouth tilted up. "I didn't really do anything but agree to eat an apple. But your welcome I guess."

"Its not just about the apple. Its about you helping me. Your very important to me. And I want you to know I'm here, we all are, for you. So please tell us if something is bothering you ever."

Mikey didn't mean to say that. He knew this wasn't his Leo.

His brother who had almost died.

But with Mikey's head buried in Leo's plastorn it was easy to forget. Ever since the invasion Leo has been off. He still a jokester with the same jackass personality that Mikey loves and resents. But he's been training much more. Leo is a lot more protective, throwing himself at danger to protect all of them. Everytime he spaced out their would be this deep darkness, this blankness.

Like their was nothing.

Mikey wanted to tell his Leo how much he cared. How much he loved him and wanted him to take care of himself. To not blame himself for what happened. To stop getting hurt because what if one day he gets to hurt and he doesn't make it.

Than Mikey doesn't have him.

Mikey needs his older brother.

"Your very important to me too."

And once again Mikey felt guilt claw up his throat. How dare he take this away from these versions of his brothers?

Mikey from this world already seem to have a bit of an issue being upfront with his issues, guessing from how he was vaguely described to Mikey by everyone here. But now Mikey took what his brother thought was a sweet, genuine real moment and used it to be selfish and project his own problems.

He was the worst.

Mikey kept hugging Leo but did not say anything.

Mikey's guilt kept his mouth shut.

Mikey headed out of the dojo and back to the kitchen where Raph was still sat, mindlessly scrolling on his phone.

Mikey lightly tapped his shoulder. "You ready?"

Raph looked up. "Yeah whatever."

They first went by Mikey's room to pick up the spray paints Mikey had stolen. Mikey was rummaging around to grab them as Raph stood off to a corner.

Mikey had finish grabbing all of his paints and placed them in his bag when Raph pointed to a corner in Mikey's room. "What's that?"

Mikey turned to where Raph was pointing to be met with the paintings he had made with April and Casey, their disturbing glory on display.

Mikey turned back to Raph. "Oh you know art."

Raph raised an eyebrow. "Mikey no offense but those paintings are fucking creepy. How do you sleep at night with them just watching you?"

'Pretty terribly' Mikey replied in his head. Although that was not the paintings fault, no it was mostly the fault of being in a strange unfamiliar place, sleeping in bed that wasn't his, surrounded by people who weren't his family.

Oh and the constant nightmares from you know what.

"Just fine thank you!"

Raph rolled his eyes. "Yeah whatever just don't come crying to me when you wake up and you see that in the corner of your room." Raph vaguely gestured to the corner.

Mikey smiled. "Don't worry I won't."

Mostly because they weren't Mikey's brothers and he already felt guilty enough about seeking so much support from them already.

"Yeah sure." Raph said as he left the room, Mikey quickly followed.

When they arrived at their painting spot, the same one Mikey brought them to before, they immediately got to work on new projects. Raph headed down the sewer tunnel so while Mikey could still see him he had a hard time making out Raph's work.

Mikey didn't really think to hard about what he was putting on the wall. He just let himself be lost in his work. It seemed to working pretty well for him so far. The cans felt as if they were moving on there own and Mikey was simply along for the ride.

Nethier of them talked. Both completely absorbed in their work. Mikey doesn't know how much time passed. All he cared about was creating.

Making.

Feeling.

Once he was done he stared at what he had made. The painting was of a kuro fundi, it resembled the one he used to know but different. A clock sat in the middle of the kuro fundi at the time of 12 o'clock. The kuro fundi seemed to be swinging as a bright heavenly glow surrounded it.

Raph leaned over. "Huh not bad.."

Mikey span around to face Raph. "Can I see yours!"

Raph sighed. "Mines not done yet."

"Oh okay! I can wait for you to finish."

Raph shrugged. "Its fine. We should probably head back. Leo is going to blow a casket if were gone any longer."

They gathered their supply's and made their way back, walking in silence. Nethier of them wanting to disturb the quiet peace. Mikey walking a few steps ahead of Raph.

"So what sparked the sudden intrest in art?" Raph asked.

Mikey whipped around to face him, walking backwards as he talked. "I don't know. Amnesia things I guess."

Raph huffed. "Doesn't explain the skill. I've never seen you draw anything better than a stick figure. "

Mikey laughed nervously. Shit alternate him wasn't an artist? How did he just learn this? "Huh strange. But I did hear from D sometimes when people get hit in the head there able to do things they never have before!"

Raph raised an eye brow. "Really?"

"Yes really! Like there was this princess that got hit and could speak french even though shes never heard french in her life!"

Mikey isn't sure how true that story is. He heard about it forever ago and can't remember the details enough to look it up and confirm it.

Raph chuckled. "And your not making this up?"

"Oh definitely not. Why would I ever do that!"

"Sure you wouldn't. Cause you don't make up the craziest shit I've ever heard."

Mikey tilted his head. "I don't?"

Raph cackled. "You do! I'm just messing with you. Before all this you made up some wild shit."

Mikey smiled. "I did?"

"Ha! All the time. Everyday you have a new wacky thing to tell us. You were all over the place. Sure it could annoying but it was also so you."

Raphs voice took on a somewhat sad tone near the end and Mikey guilt ate away at him a little more. He wasn't their Mikey, he was just pretending to be.

And they missed there Mikey.

A lot.

"I'm sorry I'm not like that. I can try to be if you want!"

Raph shook his head. "Nah besides I'm sure Donnie will find way to fix this and you will be back to your annoying self."

Raph said as he walked past Mikey and gave him a light push on the head. Mikey stumbled a little once he regained balance Mikey chased after him laughing as he ran.

And Mikey smiled.

Just a little longer.

He just has to pretend for a little longer.

When they got back they learned much more time had passed than ethier of them have thought. Time passed weird in this dimension, it felt much faster than his own.

Leo stood in the kitchen with Casey and April taking seats at the counter.

"There you are! It's been hours!"

"Chill fearless we were just painted and got distracted." Raph replied. Mikey set down his art supplies on the kitchen island as the two brothers argued.

Leo sighed. "Okay fine. At least your back for patrol."

Mikey tilted his head. "Where's Donnie?"

Before anyone could awnser there was l crashing heard coming from the direction of Donnie's room before Donnie appeared rubbing his eyes, mask barely tied on.

"Good morning everyone." Donnie said with a yawn.

Raph rolled his eyes. "Dude its literally the evening. You slept all day."

Donnie eyes shot wide. "What!"

Leo sighed. "We are about to go on patrol."

Donnie looked absolutely flabbergasted, his mouth hanging open. "I wasted an entire day? How!"

April walks towards Donnie and places her hand on his forehead seemingly checking for a fever. "Are you feeling alright Don? This is kinda weird for you."

"Yes! I feel fine!"

"Don't matter we are going on patrol now." Raph said oddly dismissively.

Everyone started to gather their stuff and head to exit as Mikey followed.

"But what about the thing I was gonna show you Raph?" Mikey heard Donnie say as they walked away from the kitchen.

"You can just show me after okay?" Raph said as he jogged away from Donnie to catch up with the rest.

Mikey wasn't facing Donnie so he didn't see Donnie's reaction but from Donnies grumbling it wasn't good.

When they got to the surface the tension within the group seemed to iron out. Everyone was much more relaxed once they climbed up the first building to start roof hopping.

"Alright gang just a standard patrol. This is still only Mikeys second time being out since you know."

Mikey hated that. The 'having to tell other people to treat him like he's glass'. To bend and change to suite how fragile he supposedly was.

It was beyond embarrassing.

Raph slung an arm around his shoulder. "Lighten up Leo. Mikey did fine yesterday hes going to be fine again."

Mikey liked this Raph. Sure he loved his Raph more than anything. Hell he probably raised him more than Splinter did. He was kinda of a paternal figure to Mikey when he was younger. Mikey would always go to him first when he had an issue.

He'd always seek his help.

Over the years Mikey stopped going to Raph because of Raphs overbearing and protective nature. Mikey gets it he's the youngest and Raph basically feels like he has to protect everybody. But god dammit could it be so annoying. So it was nice to have a Raph that didn't treat him like he was incompetent.

"Hell yeah I am!" Mikey exclaimed.

"See we got this." Raph said.

Leo sighed. "Fine whatever."

They continued their patrol. Everyone was laughing and having fun as they jumped from roof to roof. It didn't even really feel like a patrol more like a hang out. It kinda reminded of the 'patrols' him and his siblings would take when they first started the whole crime fighting business.

But there was one thing he couldn't shake in all the fun.

Donnie sleeping all day.

Was he not getting enough sleep at night? Donnie was dragging behind everyone. Mikey knows that his Donnie occasionally had a hard time getting away from his work so Mikey assumed it must be true for this Donnie too.

Mikey would have to talk to him.

As they jumping around on the roof they took some time and stopped for a bit to catch their breaths. That's when Casey came up to him holding out a sketch book.

"Dude! So like I've been doing some painting the last few days and I think I've really improved!"

Casey turned his book around and Mikey had to admit it was a great improvement from the last time he watched Casey paint.

"Wow that actually pretty good!"

"Right! I'm so in to this now. Originally I'd only really drew but like painting is so wicked dude! Plus girl love it! Isn't that right April?"

Mikey didn't hear a response but he saw a faint glow as a soda can hit Casey in the face.

"Ow red watch it!"

"Watch you mouth and I wouldn't have to 'watch it'" April said as she made her way over. "But on painting Mikey your has inspired me to paint! I bought all the stuff can you give me a lesson?"

Mikey grinned. "Of course! I can come over and show you whenever!"

April hugged Mikey. "Great! Thanks Mikey your the best!"

Mikey wanted to keep smiling at her. He wanted to enjoy this moment.

But he couldn't.

He was a faker.

He was lying to all of them.

He moved his way in and took their Mikeys place.

Like a cuckoo.

He pulled their Mikey away from the nest and replaced him so he could fix his own problems.

Before Mikey could feel to sorry for himself Leo, who had been looking over the side of the building, gestured for them to all be quiet. They all did as instructed, all waiting for another command. Leo than jumped down in to the alleyway and all of them followed.

Mikey looked around the alleyway but there was nothing there.

Just garbage and dumpsters.

"Leo theirs no one here." Donnie said who seemed to be much more awake.

"Good going fearless leader. You led us to nothing."

Leo huffed. "I could have sworn I saw-"

Before Leo could finish his sentence purple blasts of light filled Mikey's vision. Mikey quickly drew his chucks but froze in place when he turned and saw who was shooting at them.

Their attackers were small, pink, gooey. They were in glowing robot bodies that carried large blasters.

They didn't look anything like his own Krang but they were close enough with there pink colouration and there slimy texture to freeze Mikey in his place.

"Mikey move!" Someone yelled.

But Mikey wasn't listening at all. He was completely out of it.

All he could think about was the invasion.

Tentacles everywhere.

His brothers in pain.

Raph deformed in to a krang monster.

Donnie being fusing with the space ship.

Leo floating in the prison dimension.

It was all to much.

Mikey barely registered the hand on his shoulder.

All he could truly he was the suffering of his family.

The icky textures surrounding him.

Everything falling in on itself.

New York, his home, being ripped apart.

People splating on the ground after being picked up by the technodrome and dropped.

The men women and children being taken over by the krang.

Nothing left of them except a small sliver of person no one could reach like they could for Raph.

Why were they the lucky one?

Why did Mikey get his family back why so many others lost there?

It's not fair.

It's not fair.

It's not fair.

Fear racked at his brain once more.

Mikey repeated this in his head. It was all on his mind, that he didn't even notice that he had been tackled to the ground.

April

Everyone rushed behind the near by dumpsters. The krang weren't hard to take down but the ambush caught them off guard so they needed a moment to regroup.

April was catching her breath. She really wasn't expecting this tonight. As she she attempt to get air in to her lungs she heard Raph shout out. "Mikey what the hell are you doing!"

April peaked out from the dumpster she hid behind to see that Mikey was still standing there competently frozen. He wasn't moving. His eyes blankly trained on the Krang.

April didn't think about what she did next. Using her powers to call on a near by trash can, slamming it in to the krang bots as she ran out from behind the dumpster to grab Mikey's shoulder.

And......

Images filled her head that were not hers.

April really didn't mean to, really she didn't.

It's just she still had her powers activated from throwing the trash can.

She forgot to turn them off honest!

April really messed up.

She didn't mean to look in Mikeys mind.

But when she did all she saw were horrors.

She could feel slimy tentacles on her skin, wrapping around her.

Pink gunk was stopping her in place.

People were dying.

Infected by pink goo that incased their bodies.

Making them no longer human.

The pink tentacles crawled on every surface, every person.

The pink goo made it's way in to peoples mouths.

Their flesh torn.

Bones snapped out of place as they contorted to pink, fleshy monsters.

It was tearing the humanity from them.

A purple and pink glow incased her.

It was so bright her eyes burned all the way back in to the back of her brain.

Pain danced everywhere but the arms is were it was the worst.

It was like she had stuck her arms in to the sun.

After those images she didn't ever see anything in full.

Just quick shots of a destroyed world filled with pink tentacles.

They looked like the Krang.

Pain and guilt engulfed her.

Ate away at her.

It's all she could feel.

Hurt and shame danced in her head making everything feel fuzzy.

She couldn't feel anything else. Just quick excruciating flashes.

The memories (April thinks these are memories) they were barely registering anymore.

Everything was just to quick.

To painful.

To gorey.

April was so caught up in, this, she didn't notice when both of her and Mikey were tackled to the ground.

"What the hell was that!" Raph screamed. Raph's attack thankfully knocked April's hand off of Mikey shoulder so she was no longer seeing....whatever that was.

April looked around Raph to see that Leo, Donnie and Casey were fighting off the Krang.

Raph pulled himself off and helped both of them up. Mikey still didn't say anything but he seemed much more alert than he had before.

Before April could say anything Mikey responded for her. "Nothing. Sorry I don't think I was ready for this."

Raph sighed. "It's fine, whatever."

Raph than turned and helped with the rest of the fight.

April didn't move she just stood there with Mikey. But now? Standing there, knowing everything that was in his head.

She was starting to question if it was her Mikey.

Those memories they were like they came from a different person.

Like that wasn't Mikey.

As if he has been replaced.

But by who?

Aprils not sure but looking at the memories with the pink tentacles and ships with purple glow.

She could make a pretty good guess.

Because the thing beside her was not Mikey.

Donnie

They quickly cleared out the rest of the krang. It was an easy fight, Donnie barely had to use any energy to take out the flimsy robot bodies. Once finished all of them jogged back to where April and Mikey were left.

"What happened?" Leo asked.

April looked like she was about to respond but Mikey quickly spoke before she could. "I freaked. I'm sorry."

Leo sighed. "Its fine just... don't freeze next time."

Mikey looked at Leo as if he was gonna say something else but he kept his mouth shut.

Donnie could probably use this reaction as a new string of evidence.

Casey quickly filled the uncomfortable silence that was starting to form. "Yeah dude! You completely stopped! It was real creepy."

Donnie turned to Leo. "Maybe we should head back. I know we haven't been out long but I don't think Mikey is ready."

Truth be told Donnie mostly just wanted to show Raph his presentation as soon as possible. He had been able to even gather more evidence while out on patrol. Although most of it would probably not be that reliable since his brain had been fogged with sleep.

"But I am!" Mikey shouted. April who at this point had been completely spaced out flinched.

"Apparently not. Look we can talk about it later now lets just go home." Leo jumped up the fire scape, effectively ending the conversation.

As they made their way back to their home they chatted as they did earlier.

Except April she had been dead silent the entire way back to the lair.

Her eyes looked completely unfocused. Donnie would have to check up on her later and see if she had a concussion.

Ever since Donnies conversation with Mikey, Donnie feelings for April have been odd. He really didn't know how to feel about them anymore. If they were just fucked up way for him to cope that he didn't know how express.

Donnie wants to lock them away in shame.

Shame that the first person he made friends with he had taken his own issues with his humanity out on. That he only felt anything for her to feel normal.

Which made Donnie wonder.

Were they ever even real?

They got back to lair pretty quickly. Raph was grumbling that he didn't get a chance to pummel enough Krang bots.

"You'll get to pummel stuff next time." Leo turned to Mikey. "Mikey are you feeling okay."

Mikey huffed. "Yeah I'm fine I'm just gonna go lie down."

Leo nodded. "Okay you can find me if you need anything."

Mikey gave a thumbs up and walked back to his room.

"Well tonight was a total bust I'm going to bed." Raph said as he started to stalk off to his room.

"Raph what happened to y'know looking at my thing?"

Raph rolled his eyes. "Donnie can we just do that tomorrow."

"But-"

"Donnie." Raphs eyes were filled frustration and also a bit of sadness.

"Fine."

Casey laughed. "Well if everyone is just gonna go to sleep I'm going home bye bye."

Casey walked towards the exit. Leaving just Donnie, Leo and April.

"I'm going to go work in my lab." Donnie quickly turned around to leave.

Leo placed a hand on Donnies shoulder. "Donnie are you sure that's a good idea. You slept all through the day. Maybe you need a break.

Donnie shrugged off Leo's hand. "Yes I am. So drop it."

Donnie continued his walk to the lab.

Donnie hammered at the piece of scrap metal.

Today had been a massive failure. He slept through the whole day and didn't even get to shown Raph his evidence. He just brushed him off like it was nothing.

Like Donnie was nothing.

Donnie knows he shouldn't let it bother him so much.

Raph is just like that.

But it does.

Donnie continued to bang away at the metal. He kinda missed April for that reason. Donnie had kinda been avoiding her since his talk with Mikey. April was the first person to give him something resembling praise.

And sure his family would but it was nice coming from an outside force.

Who didn't solely rely on Donnies machines like his family did.

His family.

Who he was currently going crazy over. Mostly his little brother. Donnie knows that's not Mikey.

But no one will believe him.

No one will even try.

Its infuriating.

They think hes just being paranoid. Donnie is just reading to much in to it.

And maybe?

Maybe their right.

Maybe Donnie really was just being paranoid and their was nothing to it. Maybe he was just creating a larger gap between him and his brothers.

There was a knock at the door.

"Donnie?"

Donnie looked over to see April standing at the entryway. She looked meek standing in it. Half of her body out and hiding her face in lining, she was huddled in to herself.

Very unlike the April he knew.

"April?"

"Can I come in?"

Donnie nodded and she took a seat across from Donnie at his work bench.

"So what brings you here."

She took a deep breath. "I saw inside Mikeys mind."

Donnie blinked. "What?"

"Not on purpose! When I went to grab him I had my powers activated and I looked inside. And Donnie." She leaned close to Donnie. As close as she could get with a work bench in between them. "It was awful. Horrors I have never seen before in my life. Horrors our Mikey has never seen."

Donnie stared at her intensely.

"What are you saying?"

She took another breath in.

Her eyes bore in to Donnies own, completely filled with terror.

"I'm saying that your right. That thing? In the other room is not Mikey. Its entirely different entity. A fucked up unreal entity that should not exsit. A completely unreal creature and I pray to whatever god is out there I am wrong about my theory."

Donnie felt shivers go down his spine. "What is your theory?"

"That thing in the other room is a Krang clone."

Chapter Text

Donnie

Donnie didn't know how to feel about April's theory.

For the last few days Donnie has known something was wrong. That there was something admist. That everything with Mikey was off.

And to finally have that confirmed by someone else?

Exhilarating.

But for April to purpose such an outlandish hypothesis?

Perplexing

Donnie stared at April. "And your'e sure of this how?"

"When I looked in his mind I saw awful things the world being taken over by Krang. Everyone being possessed by Krang. Mikey doesn't have memories like that. The world slowly turning to a massive living Krang entity." She paused. "My theory is that he was sent to replace Mikey gain our trust and enact that plan."

Donnie thought before responding.

This sounded a bit much even to Donnie.

"That doesn't seem completely plausible I don't think but than again..." Donnie started to think back to the last week and a half.

Mikey was found in a alleyway, conveniently with amnesia. He had healed unnaturally fast from his injuries but kept his amnesia. His DNA was still to his and his brothers but different enough. Similar to the April clones this Mikey could possibly have some different combinations of genetic information.

But Mikey did freak out whenever anyone brought up the Krang.

Than again it could possibly be a trigger word to him being a clone and his mission.

Donnie grabbed his notes and viewed them. Almost all could be easily fit in to this theory. Taste buds? Genetic fuck while doing the coding. Fighting without thinking? Just another genetic fuck up.

They also probably didn't have enough DNA to make a proper clone so they must have had to mix it with something else.

Donnie shifted his papers some more.

Ornate box turtle DNA.

The Krang must have found a random turtle and used his DNA to make up for not having enough.

Oh god.

"April. I think...I think you might be right."

Donnie and April quickly rounded up everyone, who were not super pleased with the two since they were all about to go to sleep.

Casey huffed. "Why the hell are we here? I was about to go home."

April rolled her eyes. "You can go home after. We have much more important things right now."

Leo sighed. "What could be so important that you had to keep us from going to bed? And why isn't Mikey here?"

Donnie looked over at April who met his eyes. Donnie nodded to her and April cleared her throat.

"I saw inside Mikey's head."

A long beat of silence.

"You did what!" Raph shouted from his place in the corner, who up to this point was quite disinterested.

"Whoah actually red? So not cool." Casey said crossing his arms.

"I didn't mean too! It was an accident."

Raph stocked closer to the rest of them than got in to April's face. "Did Donnie put you up to this? Was it his idea."

"My idea! I didn't tell her anything!" Donnie defended.

"Oh sure you didn't. She just did the exact thing Don has begging me days to let her do!"

"All of you stop it." Leo shouted turning to Donnie and April. "So why did you call us here besides that?"

April breathed in. "As I said I looked in to Mikey's mind." Raph grumbled. "And what I saw." April paused her eyes starting to go blank.

"Geez red can you keep us waiting any longer." Casey said.

April shook her head. "Sorry I was just....collecting my thoughts. Anyway when I looked in his head I got conformation on Don's theory that something is up with Mikey. But what I saw that confirmed it." April shivered.

Raph raised an eyebrow. "April you're not giving us a lot to work with."

April sighed. "I saw hell. I watched the sky torn open and a technodrome burst out. It was more advance than anything we have ever seen. More powerful. The Krang they were stronger bigger. I think I think.....I can't say much else." Tears were welling up in her eyes and she quickly wiped them away. "But know this I'm almost for sure that thing in the other room is not Mikey."

Everyone in the room stared at April. Eyes were wide as they took in April's gruesome description.

"Okay that doesn't make a lot of sense why you saw that but it doesn't prove anything!" Raph said standing up.

"Raphael think for one second. Why would Mikey have those memories? None of us have memories even like that! Unless they were planted! Unless they are a plan! Unless that thing is not Mikey!"

Raph growled but didn't get a chance to say anything before Leo put and arm in front of him and stepped forward. "That still doesn't make sense. Mikey has been freaking out whenever we mention the Krang! There is no explanation for any of this!"

Donnie saw this as a good time to interjected once more. "I was thinking about that and their is a good chance he is a clone, a more refined version of the ones we found of April. Programmed to think he's Mikey along with have amnesia to make up for the gaps of events. Along with having a more pitying effect for us. His response to the Krang since the roof have been odd. I've suspect the term may trigger some kind of conflict in his mind. He's made to care for us like the real Mikey but to also be loyal to the Krang."

"Whoah freaky. So if that's a clone where is the real Mikey?" Casey asked.

The room suddenly became extremely tense.

Raph had sat back down he listened intently to Donnies monologue, eyes widening once he heard Casey's comment. "No I don't believe it."

Leo put a hand on Raphs shoulder. "Raph the evidence here is really hard to deny."

Raph shrugged Leo hand away. "No I don't believe it."

"Dude let it go. I think their right." Casey said.

Raph growled. "You all can't believe this! This is crazy."

"Raph I'm sorry but the signs are pointing  to this being the truth." Donnie stated.

Raph face grew angry before falling in to acceptance. "Fine your right. But just so you all know I want to be the one to take them out." He took out his sais.

"Hold on a second guys." Leo turned towards Donnie. "Donnie you said that the clone most likely cares for us similar to the real Mikey and he has no idea he may be a fake?"

Donnie nodded. "Yes that would be correct."

"So if we can sway the clone to our side we could possibly get him to spill everything about the Krang and help us find the real Mikey."

Donnie shrugged. "Hypothetically yes."

Leo grinned. "So how about instead of beating out of him we interrogate him and see what we get out of him."

Donnie thought for a moment. "Trying to get information out of him may cause a violent defense action depending how he was programmed but if we can slowly and gently coax him in to giving information, even if it's subconscious, it may be much more effective."

"Alright than lets grab him and drag him in here." Raph yelled.

Donnie shook his head. "Not so fast Raph. We don't know how he would react to the surprise. We need something that will keep somewhat docile why we transport and interrogate him." Everyone stared at Donnie.

Leo huffed. "Okay Donnie what do you suggest we do?"

Donnie smiled, picking up one of his syringes. "I think I have some ideas."

Mikey

Mikey has had better days.

Much better days.

Actually this may have been close to his worse.

His body felt so drained after getting back from the patrol. All he wanted to do was lay down and never get up.

So of course he decided to meditate.

To be fair meditating usually helped with his nightmares and after his little flashback from earlier Mikey knew for sure he was going to have one.

Mikey sat down in the proper position and let go of everything that had happened that day.

His stress.

His fear.

His guilt.

Mikey had found this extremely helpful whenever he was struggling with memories of the invasion. The feeling of just letting go was quite nice while mediating. It helped him feel less attached to the world and the trauma he had endured.

Soon his thoughts drifted to the mystic energy of this dimension.

How close he was to having full access.

He just needed that final push.

One final spark to get him to fully connect.

But he wasn't gonna get there today. He sighed and opened his eyes. This was frustrating to say the least. Mikey needed to break in to the mystic energy somehow. He had to get home and so far mystic energy is his only route.

Maybe a emotionally distressing moment would do it? That's how he did it in his dimension when Leo was stuck in the prison dimension. But he had already several of those here and nothing has happened.

Mikey layed down in the bed that belonged to his alternate self.

He just needed to keep trying.

Mikey closed his eyes.

Yeah he'll just keep trying.

Mikey let sleep take him.

His dreams were surprisingly pleasant tonight. Well pleasant compared to how they are after the invasion. His dreams are usually horrific twisted versions of the already terrifying twisted invasion he went through.

Leo and Raph were fighting. Mikey couldn't recall if this was a real fight that had happened one he made up for the dream. Nevertheless he found himself in Donnies lab searching for comfort.

"Donnie!" He called out. Everything felt cold and familiar. Mikey had done this hundred times before.

It was nice being somewhere familiar for once.

Doing something familiar.

In a place he felt safe in.

It was nice.

"Hello turtle." Mikey heard a deep bone chilling voice say.

He whipped around quick.

Mikey recognized that voice.

Behind him was a figure covered in shadows that towered over Mikey's small frame.

Mikey hated being so small.

The figure's sharp teeth and glowing eyes bared in to him as his laughter bounced off the walls.

"Shredder?" Mikeys voice sounded tiny and pathetic.

"Yes little turtle. It is me. Did you think you could be rid of me?"

Mikey did not get a chance to respond before Shredder had shoved him to the ground, using one hand to pin him down.

Much similar to how Leatherhead had done not long before.

Mikey desperately clawed at the metal claw that soon left his hand bloody. Shredders laugh rang all through the lab that had slowly melted away in to a location Mikey did not recognize at first.

It looked familiar but was blurred in that dream like way.

"I am surprised little turtle that you survived our encounter in your old lair. You were quite tough. Perhaps you would make a good punching bag."

Mikey felt tears well in his eyes as the shredder laughed again. But this time the laughter slowly morphed from that of the shredders to that of the Krangs.

"This is pathetic really." The Krang said as the metal on Mikey changed in to tentacles. Mikey gasped and felt tears well from his eyes. Mikey tried to use his mystic abilities to free himself but the did not work.

The Krang chuckled at Mikeys futile attempts.

"A nice try but you must learn your place beneath Krang!" And like that felt himself be thrown violently against the floor in to a bottomless pit, plunging him in to darkness.

Mikey quickly opened his eyes and moved to sit up. Just to find he was already sitting up. Mikey than tried to move his arms in a panic and found they were pinned to his sides by rope.

Mikeys eyes adjusted to see this dimension turtles, along with April Casey, standing in front of him. All of them looked a mix of pissed off, confused and upset which really wasn't a good sign for Mikey.

Raph was the first to move from where he stood by the wall kneeling down to Mikey on the floor.

"Talk."

Leo nudged him. "Remember gentle."

Raph rolled his eyes and payed little attention to Leo's words.

Mikey was so disoriented that all he could do was make a confused noise.

Raph grumbled before leaning in closer. "We know everything. Now tell us your plan."

"What?"

"Your plan! To destroy earth we know your a Krang clone!"

"Raph! You can't lead with that!" Leo yelled.

Mikey eyes widened. Krang? They thought he was with the Krang.

"I'm not a krang clone."

Raph scoffed. "Oh sure you aren't we know you're working with the Krang!"

Mikey brain felt like mush. Why is he yelling about the krang. Mikey really did not want to hear about the krang, esspically after his dream.

"Uh Raph I think you need to calm down." Donnie commented.

"I know what I'm doing!" Raph responded.

"I don't know what your talking about." Mikey answered honestly. He wasn't working with the Krang and the idea of doing so made his stomach twist.

Raph laughed. "Oh sure you don't. Don't fucking lie. We know everything. Krang clone."

Mikey sucked in a deep breath. He really didn't like having any association with the Krang in any way.

Mikey growled. "I'm not working with them. And I would like you to stop saying that I am."

Donnie who seemed to become more annoyed with Raph's method took a step forward. "Maybe we should have April look in his head again? She may be able to get something more clear this time."

April looked down. "If it's not necessary could I not? I don't think I've recovered fully."

Casey placed a hand on her shoulder. "No problem red. I'm sure we can get this Krang clone thing to talk."

"Could you please stop saying I'm you know what?"

Raph, who had been watching the interaction, snapped his attention back on Mikey. "What? The krang? The guys who made? Does that word make you upset?"

"Raph stop." Leo warned.

Mikey felt anger build up in him. Not just at this Raph but his whole situation. How cruel and ironic that he was stuck here being compared to the Krang? The fuckers that almost destroyed his life.

"I'm not with them."

Raph laughed again. "Sure. And you didn't replace the real Mikey. Which we have no idea where he is."

"Raph I think you should calm down. We don't want to trigger anything. " Leo proposed.

"Calm down? We don't know where our brother is, New York may be destroyed soon, April can't look in to his head and see what will even destroy New York, and to top it all of were stuck with this useless krang clone."

Something in Mikey was building.

Something that he recognized.

It was a swirl of emotions of fear and anger.

Mikey had screwed everything up with them.

Now they're comparing him to the Krang.

They are referring to him as less than human.

They would probably throw him to the streets.

He was going to be alone in this universe that he barely knew anything about.

He'd be alone.

"I'm not one of them." Mikey spat out again.

"Oh sure you aren't. Your Krang buddies can't save you now."

"Raphael."

"Stop saying their name."

"Oh what? Krang? You don't like hearing the word krang? Reminds you to much of your mission? To much of you to llying to us and taking away our brother?"

Something in Mikey snapped.

Mikey couldn't describe it but it felt like everything from the last few days finally hit Mikey.

Everything that had happened.

Everything that had happened in the last few months even.

The Krang invading.

His family almost dying.

Mikey starting his mystic training.

Getting stuck in a new dimension alone.

With no one but himself.

Being compared to the creatures that destroyed his life.

And soon being left with absolutely no one to help him in a unfamiliar dimension with no way home.

Everything just hit Mikey.

Everything broke.

All the emotions just hit Mikey all at once.

And apparently that was the last thing Mikey needed for the mystic dam to break.

Casey

Casey won't lie he was not really paying attention to the interrogation.

Mostly because he was completely spaced out still trying to process the information that was presented by April and Donnie.

The Mikey they have had for the last few days was not their Mikey and was just some fucked up clone and that none of them have no idea where the real Mikey is? And that he could be dead for all they know.

Yeah not exactly something Casey can comprehend in the span of an hour.

So when there was a sudden bright glow of orange and a big wave of energy knocking him to ground you could say he was a little surprised.

Casey quickly recovered and looked to see what had happened and honestly.

There is no good way to express what he saw except holy shit.

The Mikey clone was free from his ropes, seemingly being burned to a crisp. Mikey clone was floating, his eyes glowing a bright blinding orange.

Everyone else had been knocked to the floor similar to Casey. Everyone seemed to only be disoriented on the floor like Casey with no other visble injuries except for Raph who was the closest to the clone and was completely knocked out.

The clone Mikey stayed floating in the air for a moment longer before dropping down on to his feet. Casey had been the furthest away from the attack so he had recovered the quickest, already feeling his confusion be replaced with rage. Casey lunged at the clone but was suddenly held back by an invisible force. The clone had his hand held out similar to how April had hers when she used her own powers.

The clone pushed Casey back to the corner he had landed in during the first blast. All to the clones credit though he much gentler than the first out burst.

Than the clone, just like that, walked out.

An orange glow just like April's own following him, still filling his eyes as he passed Casey one last time.

Everyone slowly started to stand up. Casey was the first, he moved to April and started to help her up. Leo and Donnie had already moved to help Raph in to a medical bed.

Leo slowly pushed Raph so Donnie was supporting most of Raph's body weight before pointing at April. "April and Donnie stay here and make sure Raph is  okay. Me and Casey are gonna see if we can catch up with the clone."

Donnie nodded and quickly started to make his way to his the medical cots. April quickly ran over to help carry Raph.

Casey and Leo didn't say anything to one another as they both sprinted out the lab doors. The clone couldn't have gone far.

Than again these are the sewers. They were like a maze the clone could be down any tunnel.

"Stay vigilant Casey he could be anywhere." Leo said taking to lead.

"I'm always vigilant yo!"

They searched for what must have almost been nearing two hours with nothing. It was like the clone just completely disappeared with no trace.

"Where could've gone?" Leo said clearly frustrated.

"Don't sweat it to much dude. We can search more later and have everyone help once Raph is all clear."

Leo sighed. "Yeah your right. Come on we got to think of a plan."

Leo took off first Casey was about to follow him when Casey could've sworn he saw a pair of orange glowing eyes at the end of the tunnel.

Casey blinked a few times before they disappeared.

Must have just the stress of the night getting to Casey.

Casey turned and followed Leo's lead back to the lair.

Chapter Text

Mikey

Mikey wouldn't be lying when he said this was one of the better experience he has had with dimensional travel.

There was no universe ending shenanigans.

No being stuck in a backwards hellscape.

And he was getting free pizza.

Granted it was left over and cold but Mikey still devoured it after Raph brought it to the infirmary. At least Mikey was pretty sure he was in infferimy, going off of the medical beds and medicine that filled the cabinets.

Other Raph stayed and chatted for a while. He mostly told Mikey about his own world and what it was like.

He really wasn't lying when he said it was much different from Mikey's own.

Like apparently they were actually genetically related to the Shredder and they already defeated him which is no fair cause it's like been forever and Mikey and his brothers still haven't done it. And this guy was like a whole demon and they took him down! Mikey's Shredder was just a guy who couldn't get bitches.

"Wow your shredder seemed easy. It only took you a few months!"

Raph gave a slow laugh. "I wish. It took a lot out of us. We lost our gram gram."

"Oh."

Mikey really didn't want to get in to all of that. He knows sometimes he can have a hard time reading the room and knowing what to say with senstive subjects. He's much better at these types of things when he doesn't have to think about them. Like with Leatherhead it was so easy for him when he was talking to Leatherhead. Mikey knows the right thing to say when he's with him.

But now?

Mikey was at a loss.

"Um its okay! Shes happier now and we didn't know her for super long. I actually think you mentioned her earlier when you were explaining your world. Karai?"

Mikeys brain stopped.

Karai was their grandma?

How does that work?

"So is Splinter not your father."

Raph tilted his head. "No Splinter is our dad."

"So how can Karai be his daughter and  be Splinter's mother."

Raph gave a blank stare for a second before laughing. "No no Karai isn't Splinters daughter nor is she his mother. Karai was like our great great great and some more great grandma. It's just easier to call her gram gram."

"Oh I understand."

Mikey did not understand.

If that's true how the hell is Saki fitting in to all of this? Don't tell Mikey that hes actually there like half brother or something.

Mikey was about to ask some more questions when Raph yawned and stood up. "Well it's getting late I should be going to bed. Tomorrow I'll give you that tour."

Mikey smiled. "That sounds good dude."

Raph grinned back before turning off the lights and walking out.

Mikey sighed and layed down. So far this wasn't to bad. Although he really does hope other him is doing good. Mikey wasn't really at the best position when he got transported. But Mikey has full confidence other him will be just fine.

Mikey closed his eyes.

Yeah.....just fine.

Mikey woke up from a dreamless sleep. His eyes were still glued closed when he felt something poking his arm. Mikey swatted at whatever it was. Mikey heard an offended gasp before the person (apparently the something was a person) seemed to have sat on something near by.

Mikey mentally sighed. He really didn't want to get up just yet but he'd like to know who was just poking at him.

When Mikey opened his eyes he looked over to he this universe's Donnie sat in a spinny chair off to the side. The same one Raph had sat in yesterday. Donnie, between his grumbling, seemed to  notice Mikey had opened his eyes and was staring. Donnie very rigidly stood up from the chair and took the few steps from the chair to bed Mikey was in before crouching to Mikeys level, who was still laying down on the bed.

"How are you feeling?"

Mikey blinked. "Um fine."

Donnie hummed. "So no feelings of disappearing from time and space?"

"What no? Why?"

Donnie shrugged. "Just curious I have had little experimentation on dimensional travel. So for all I know you could be slowly causing the universe to fall in to itself."

"Whoa that's something that could happen?"

"Who knows. But as a man of science I must research every possibility."

"Dude you could just not?"

This Donnie eyes shot wide. "Huh scoff! As I would pass up the golden opportunity to learn as much as I could about someone from another dimension! Now tell me every event from your universe? Starting with, were the renaissance painters we were named after not from the 1400s like they are here? And were they not part of the Renaissance movement? Was Donatello of your world actually a Impressionst artists in your timeline. Or maybe he was an Expressionists! Oh a Realist! Or or..."

Mikey was so overwhelmed by Donnie bombardment of questions he didn't even notice that Raph had entered the room. The big Raph cleared his throat and Donnie turned to look at Raph.

"Ah Raph how lovely for you to join me in my escapade for science. I could use the help."

"Um actually Don I was hoping to take other Mikey on a tour. Maybe you can ask him questions later?"

Donnie hummed before nodding. "Very well. That should give me time to organize my thoughts a little. Farewell alternate version on my brother."

Donnie bowed and than headed out the door. Raph sighed and placed his head in his hands.

"Sorry about him he can be a bit...... excitable."

Mikey smiled. "No worries dude. I barely got half of what he said."

Raph chuckled a little. "So are ready for that tour?"

Mikey immediately stood. "Oh hell yeah I am. I've been stuck sitting for like forever!"

And like that they headed out in to the unfamiliar lair.

Raph

Raph didn't know how to feel about this whole situation.

Because like first things first his baby brother is stuck in an unknown dimension all by himself with no way of them getting there and helping him.

But the alternative Mikey seemed pretty calm which calmed Raph quite a bit, because if he's so chill about this how thing much danger can his really Mikey be in?

He's probably, mostly fine.

Still.

Raphs older brother senses were nagging him. Ever since the invasion he hadn't gone more than an hour or two without an update from his brothers. Which in itself took weeks for him to be able to be comfortable with. When they first started working on his issues of being alone after the invasion he had a whole breakdown when he didn't see them for a half an hour. Which soon lead to him going in to savage Raph mode. Something he hadn't done in almost two years. The last he did go savage he had scared himself so bad he decided to seek help and had been doing pretty well since. Hell he was able to be alone for long periods of time without even thinking of his brothers. Which made Raph realize he enjoyed his time alone. But because of the invasion Raph had lost almost all of his work with being alone.

Except this time instead of being a fear of being without his brothers it was now more being alone and being with Krang.

That loss of progress made his journey feel hopeless. He was slowly getting back to where was before but still it is a long hard process.

Raph walked down their lairs halls as alternate Mikey trailed behind. He seemed transfixed on the fairy lights they had strung up on the walls.

"Dude! Your lair is like so much nicer than ours! Yours barely looks like a sewer!" Mikey paused for a moment. "This is a sewer right?"

Raph laughed. "Yeah! It is. Donnie did a lot of work cleaning and making it house like. He even made a heating system  for the whole thing. Which was a super long process."

Raph remembers right after the Shredder fight one of the first things they did was seal up tunnels or entrances to their home so no sewer water came in or unwanted drafts. It taken Donnie a long time to gather everything he needed but he eventually did it.

"What! No way! I don't even think our lair has a heating system! Or maybe it does? Eh who cares yours is still cooler!"

Raph smiled to himself. He liked this Mikey. He reminded Raph a lot of his own Mikey in ways. They were both loud and seemingly optimistic.

Although their were a fair share amount of differences.

For example this Mikey was much more chill than his brother. Which is not a criticism to his brother at all! Mikey just gets really anxious at times. Nothing major. Although it has spiraled a few times in to what they liked to call a "guilt meltdown" (Raph is sure their is a real name for it but Mikey can't really play therapist for himself so). This Mikey doesn't seem to feel nearly as much anxiety.

Their are definitely more differences Raph could find but they are harder to describe since he hadn't known this Mikey for super long.

"Dude can we look at the kitchen first? I'm starving."

Raph smiled. "Sure you're the guest."

The two made their way to the kitchen where Raph asked what Mikey wanted. Mikey shrugged taking a seat at the island. "I'll eat anything. I'm not kidding anything. I ate a sentient pizza."

Raph paused. "That is something....but I'm also the same way."

Mikey leaned forward in his chair. "Wait really? Dude! Have you tried dirt worm jelly beans marshmallow chocolate surprise pizza?"

"Um no. It sounds interest. Do you eat it often?"

"Oh yeah totally dude. It my favorite!"

Raph didn't know how to feel. All he did know was that if his Mikey was here he would probably be shutting down at the mention of any of those things on a pizza.

Raph must have done a bad job at concealing his judgement because Mikey rolled his eyes.

"Dude come on. It's not even that bad! I'm sure you've eaten weird things before."

Raph thought for a moment.

"I ate a phone once."

Silence.

"Dude.......how did it taste."

"Like metal. It wasn't fun."

Mikey smiled. "Yeah sure but like the experience must be life changing! I wish I could eat a phone!"

Raph smiled. "No you don't."

Mikey had finished his snack and was ready to see the rest of the lair. Raph wouldn't lie when he said he was actually having a good time.

It was fun even.

Raph hasn't had fun with his Mikey in a while.

Now don't get Raph wrong he loves his Mikey more than anything. Hell he's officially unofficially Raph's favorite brother but lately Mikey has been distant.

Not from all of them just Raph.

Mostly.

Raph understands that Mikey is just going through a 'rebellious' teen phase and Raph is just the person who enforced the most rules. So he was the most clear force to push back against.

But it still hurt Raph to have his baby brother avoid him so much. To be so elusive from him.

Mikey hasn't said anything about. It had honestly been a slow progression. Going from them being around one another all the time. To Mikey spending more time on his own or with Leo and Donnie. To subtly trying to avoid hanging with Raph. To basically the two not hanging out at all.

Mikey use to come to Raph with all his problems. Reaching top shelf, trying to tell if milk was spoiled, having nightmares, those sorts of things. Sure they were never anything big but he was a kid he didn't really have anything that big.

Now he doesn't go to anyone opting to just doing it himself.

Hanging out with this Mikey made Raph nostalgic. It was nice finally hanging out with a Mikey that didn't seem to detest his existence and trying to emotionally get as far away from Raph as possible.

Maybe it was selfish but he didn't care.

Raph missed his baby brother.

"So where are we headed to now?" Mikey asked after going on a tangent about some space show from their universe.

Raph thought for a moment. "How about Donnie's lab I'm sure he would love to ask you more questions."

Mikey rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah cause I want to hear all about the Impressionst painters or whatever."

Raph sighed. "Okay. Um." Raph kept thinking before a thought suddenly struck him.

"Oh shit we never told Splinter!"

Raph ran down the hall to where Splinter was watching TV in the living room, Mikey chased after him.

"Dad! Dad! I got something I have to tell you." Raph shouted as he tumbled in to the common space. Splinter looked up to Raph from where he sat watching TV.

"Red? What is the matter? Why are you yelling." Splinter turned in his chair to better face Raph.

"Okay so like don't freak out yeah?"

"Why would I freak out my son? And why are you interrupting my show!"

"Well you see."

Before Raph could finish he felt Mikey run into him. He turned to see Mikey crashed in to him and now stumbling back.

"Uh dude give a guy a warning!"

"Red who is that?"

"Ah well you see!"

"Whoa dude your Splinter is so tiny! It's adorable!" Mikey leaned down and tried to pet Splinter.

"Red! Who is this hooligan who won't stop trying to touch me." Splinter said swating Mikey's hand away.

"Um well that's the thing you shouldn't freak out about!"

"Why would I freak out about an over friendly delinquent." Splinter yelled still trying to push away Mikey's hand.

"Well you see that delinquent is sorta kinda Mikey?" Raph was not explaining this well. Splinter looked alternate Mikey up and down before turning back to Raph.

"What?"

Holy shit Raph was screwed.

Why did he have to be the one to tell him?

Chapter Text

Mikey

Running.

That's all Mikey could do.

Run.

He couldn't stop. Mikey's body seemed to moving on it's own. Every time he tried to make his legs slow down they would refuse and speed up. His arms swung wildly at his sides as he felt burning pain coarse through his lungs. Everytime he tried to look down at his legs his head would stay in place, locked looking forward.

It was like Mikey was possessed.

Maybe it was a good thing Mikey didn't have control over his body because if he did he would have turned right around and tried to sort things out. But there wasn't much Mikey could really do.

They thought he was a krang clone.

They thought he was monster.

And honestly? The whole Krang clone thing didn't make sense. How could he be a Krang clone? What did they mean by that? That he was a cloned Krang or he was a clone by the Krang?

Semantics really.

Whatever they meant the mere idea of being in anyway associated with the Krang filled Mikey with a rage he had not known before.

Mikey really didn't mean to attack them but something in just him snapped. Some deep desperate part of him rose to the surface and took control. Now that same part had taken over his body and was not letting him go.

Maybe this was some deep survival instinct or a weird version of Ninpo. It didn't matter. Mikey was just glad it's the one making the decisions.

Mikey's body made an abrupt stop at a ladder leading up to a manhole. If Mikey still had control of his body he would have stumbled and fallen on his face at the quick change of speed. But his body's puppeteer seemed to be much more skilled than Mikey was.

Mikey's body started to climb the ladder up to the surface. Mikey tried to stop his body at first, he had no way of knowing what time of day it was or if people were out.

But it was no use.

When his body got to the top it pushed the sewer cover to the side and pulled itself up.

It was definitely early morning. Sunlight was barely touching the dingy alley Mikey found himself in. Mikey's body scanned the area. He wasn't what his body was looking for.

But his body seemed to find what it was searching for because it sneaked to the end of the alleyway he found himself in and started to pick a lock to a door.

Mikey didn't get a chance to see the sign that hung a few feet above the entrance so he was quite shocked when he opened the door to a costume shop.

Mikey's legs started to move underneath in to the closed shop. His body started to search the racks of cheaply made dress up pieces. It was starting to make sense why his body took him here if he was going to be on the street without being caught he needed to hide his whole situation.

Mikey felt a little better about everything now. Not by much but by a little. Now at least he can hide in daylight with no questions. Which made Mikey feel better since he had no idea if his family's whole 'cosplayer' thing would work here. He'd mention it to the other Leo here once but he seemed confused on what Mikey meant.

Mikey remembers the first time he and his brothers used that excuse. They had been out one night with April on the street. Usually they'd stay on rooftops but Leo and April suggested the idea of walking around on the ground. Raph was apprehensive of the idea but eventually caved to the pressures of his siblings.

Everything went smoothly at first, no one was around so they walked freely down the streets. It wasn't until they turned a sharp corner that they ran in to a large group of people. A scream ranged out. All of them had tensed immediately, getting ready to book it when the fellow teens shoved their phones in to April's hand. Shyly asking for a picture because they thought their costumes were "so cool" and "life like". None of them argued and had fun posing and taking pics with the enthusiastic fans.

Mikey was about twelve when that happened.

Three years ago.

Holy shit it felt longer.

Mikey was taken out of his memories when his hand stopped on a piece of fabric. When Mikey focused on what he had grabbed he found his hand latched on to an orange cloak. His body quickly removed it from the hanger and place it on his back. The cape was definitely made for someone bigger than him since the thing dropped all the way to Mikey's knees. But it covered his shell which was Mikey's main concern. Most other things could easily be explained but the shell?

It was a dead giveaway.

Mikey felt his hand reach up and pull the hood over his head so it covered most of his face. His body started to move towards the door, as he did Mikey caught a quick glimpse of his manipulated body in one of the stores mirrors.

Bright orange eyes met his.

Huh.

That's really concerning.

His body seemed to notice this as well cause they moved to a shelf with sunglasses, grabbed a pair and headed out the door.

Mikey is surprised that the plan his possed body hatched seemed to work.

Mikey's body wandered the streets in daylight with very few ever looking at him for more than a second.

Well their weren't that many people on the street to begin with.

Seriously what is with this place and having like only five people on each block?

Whatever. Mikey is just happy that his little disguise is working. Hell some teens came up to him and asked for a picture. They really appreciated his 'cosplay' of some character from a show. Space something. Mikey doesn't really remember.

It remined so much of that nigh from when he was twelve and him and his family's laughter over those dumb kids who thought they were cosplayers.

He missed that.

Overall his little outfit worked. Most people just seemed to think he was some kid off to a convention. Which allowed Mikey, or more accurately Mikey's body, tovwander the city undisturbed.

His body seemed to just be walking aimlessly.

Like it had no real plan.

Mikey still hadn't gained any control of it ethier. He was simply a passenger in his own body, watching where it took him. His body just kept going, everywhere all over the city. The initial fear had worn of and now it was just really starting to annoy Mikey. He had been walking all day and while he couldn't control his body he could definitely feel the pain that started to build in his legs and feet.

He's pretty sure his body is trying to get a grasp on it's surrounding. Or maybe it's doing that thing ornate box turtles do when their lost from home. Where they'll just keep wandering until they die. Donnie warned him about that happening a few years ago. Although the glowing eyes didn't seem like a super normal thing for turtles to do.

Maybe his mystic powers are combining with his instincts? It's not totally crazy but also not what Mikey thinks is happening. He has seen what happens when Raph goes on full instinct mode. He completely goes feral and only talks in single words. Mikey was able to still have full conversation like with those teens who took the photos.

It was just that....

Mikey had no control what came out of his mouth.

None of the words was his own.

It was like someone was speaking for him.

Nightfall came much quicker than Mikey was expecting. There were even fewer people were on the streets now. Actually barely anyone except the occasional street vender and homeless person. It was a far cry from Mikey's own New York that had a crowd of people, all day, everyday, all the time infecting the streets.

He liked his New York better.

Sure the constant noise could be overwhelming at times but to know that there were so many people around and that you were never alone was kinda comforting.

But since the Krang invasion things have been different. Many people died that day and many of those who didn't moved out or went to stay with family out of state for awhile. It made the streets emptier than Mikey has ever seen them. At least they were still much more populated then this.

Mikey found himself once again missing his dimension.

His brothers.

His friends.

His family.

He hadn't seen any of his family in forever. Mikey has never gone this long away from them. Mikey esspically wondered how Raph was doing. Raph was doing great before the invasion with being alone. Raph could spend days without seeing any of them and not freak out at all.

Mikey was really proud of him.

It was such a step forward.

Than the Krang thing happened.

Now he just couldn't be alone for more than an hour without losing it.

Months of progress gone in a night.

Mikey hoped Raph didn't attack the alternate version of himself. That would be hard to explain to this version of his brothers. After the whole thing that just happened, having their little brother returned beaten by a feral version of Mikey's Raph may not go over super smoothly.

Mikey mentally sighed. He'd really hate to upset these versions of his brothers even more then he already had. He liked them and they didn't deserve Mikey betraying their trust like that.

God.

Mikey was terrible.

He was starting to even really like these versions of his family. They reminded him so much of his own. Mikey also liked helping them through their issues.

It was nice.

It was familiar.

They also helped little bit of Mikey's own issues. Which now that Mikey thought about it more, that was incredibly selfish move. He used this version of his family who believed he was their brother to cope with his own issues.

How shitty of a person can Mikey be?

Hell he even helped with Raph's relationship with his Mikey which was totally unprompted. Their relationship seemed to be stable (esspically compared to Mikey's and his own Raphs at the current moment) but their were definitely some unresolved issues that Mikey discussed while pretending to be Raph's real brother.

That was really stupid of Mikey. What did he really solve? Things would just go back to how they were before since the real Mikey never had anything to do with the resolutions that made. He didn't make the promises Mikey did. It might even make things worse because Raph established a boundary that the real Mikey wouldn't know about than he'd break it and everything would go back to shit.

God, Mikey really did suck.

He couldn't even do the one thing he is good at.

Fixing people.

Mikey had been so self absorbed in his little pity party he hadn't noticed that his body had entered an alleyway. He took a seat, leaning against the wall after taking off his sunglasses and setting them down on his leg.

Mikey was happy as he started to feel the strain in his legs dull a bit with the break. While his body did not relax Mikey's mind did. He couldn't close his eyes, his body would not allow it but Mikey did his best to try and keep any thoughts out of his mind.

Nothing about his current situation.

Nothing about his family.

Nothing about his alternates of his family he betrayed.

Nothing about the you know who.

Just absolute bliss.

Which did not last long.

Their was a sound of trash cans falling over and Mikey's body was back up on its feet. His body activated his ninpo and withdrew nunchucks.

Okay so his ninpo was working now?

"I saw one of the turtles go this way." A raspy voice said.

"Are you sure? I'd hate to go on a wild goose chase cause you 'saw something'". Another voice said with an accent Mikey couldn't quite place.

"Yes. Stop doubting me. I am quite capable of seeing in the dark unlike you." The raspy voice growled out.

"Lead the way than." The accent voice said, sarcastically.

Mikey could hear their steps come closer but Mikey's body did not move. It stood perfectly still near the dumpster he had taken refuge by, hands straight at his sides.

The steps continued to come closer.

Now Mikey could tell one of the footsteps was much louder than the other, heavier. While the other set of steps were much lighter and sounded metal clanging.

Mikey could not see from his position behind the dumpster or more likely his body would not allow him to look.

He just had to wait, staring straight forward as the loud steps approached.

Finally the two figures entered Mikey's vision. One was incredibly large and dog like. He looked very skinny with literal bones purtrutaing from his skin. The dog man's ribs seem to jut painfully from his sides, dark fur covered him making him blend in with the blackness of the night. The light visble to Mikey was the street lamps and the dog man's eyes. His eyes were small and seemed to glow in the dark as they traced over the alleyway.

The other figure was much less scary. It was a red fish of some kind. Donnie might know but Mikey is unsure. He had some kind of machinery poking out of him that attached to mechanical arms and legs that moved almost as naturally as Mikey's own.

So that's where the metal clanging was sound came from.

The large wolf continued search finally resulted in him staring straight at Mikey in his dark little corner by the dumpster.

A wicked smile growing on his sharp teeth.

Leo

Leo and Casey returned to the lair empty handed. April and Donnie had already moved Raph to Donnie's lab for medical treatment after he got knocked out from his encounter with the Krang clone. Raph had woken up not long after and thankfully seemed to not have sustained much damage from the attack.

Which, unfortunately, meant Raph could yell at them as soon as they entered.

"What do you mean you lost him? He was fucking glowing! How do you lose a fucking glowing turtle?"

Leo sighed. "Look we couldn't catch up to him but we can track him down. He can't be that hard to find."

"What I don't understand is the whole glowly thing. If he's a Krang clone, how is he doing all that?" Casey asked.

Donnie tapped chin. "My theory is that he's similar to April. Same telepathic abilities. Same glow. Just perfected and programmed in to a Mikey clone."

"Oh great so we are dealing with a hyped up Krang clone that took us out in 5 seconds. We have no idea where our actual brother is, for all we know he could be dead." Raph flung his arms wildly around.

Donnie shrugged. "When you put it like that it sounds almost bad."

"Dude you are way to chill about this." Casey pointed out.

"I've had a few days to process this possibility. I think I can use the equipment I made to monitor April's powers to track down the Krang clone. Their energy output should be pretty similar if my theory is correct."

"And how long will that take?" Leo asked.

"If I start now? Twenty four hours, max."

"What the hell are you waiting for! Go!" Raph yelled.

Donnie rolled his eyes and mumbled something along the lines of "I really wish he was knocked longer".

April turned towards Leo. "Do you think we should ask for some help? Maybe the Mighty Mutantanimals can try tracking 'it' as well?"

Raph grumbled. "We can handle this on our own!"

No one really said anything to that. It was easy to see Raph was agitated and poking him would probably not be the best move at the moment.

April and Casey decided to stay the night in the dojo so they could start searching as soon as Donnie was done. They left to set up mats in the room, which left Leo alone with Raph.

Leo sighed and took a seat on Raph's medical bed. Raph had his arms crossed and refused to make eye contact with Leo.

"What's wrong?" Leo asked.

Raph rolled his eyes. "Nothing. Everything is just fucking peachy."

"Raph if something is bothering you can tell me. You seemed.....upset earlier."

That was the nicest way Leo could put it.

"How are you not? We have no where our brother is, we've been fooled for weeks by a shitty clone, the Krang are probably planning some big new take over and now that stupid fucking clone is on the lose probably spilling all our secrets to the krang!"

Leo blinked. "When you put like that.."

Raph screamed in anger and moved himself in a cross legged position with his head in hands. "You don't fucking get it Leo. I defended that clone. Donnie had been saying that something was wrong forever and I just didn't do anything. I could have done fucking something."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Than why didn't you? Why didn't you say anything? What was stopping you?"

Raph growled. "Because he fucking tried to help me."

Their was a moment of silence.

Raph deflated a little, tension disappearing. "Mik-.....the fucking clone tried to help me. He tried to help me understand why I was upset and what he could do. He made me feel like my anger wasn't some burden. Like he really understand what was happening in my head."

Raph leaned back. "I guess I know why he really wanted to help."

Leo tried to process this. He knew how much Raph had struggled with his anger issues and how he wanted his rage under control. It seemed the clone had taken a different approach than any of them had tried. It sought to understand the root of problem.

Where the anger was coming.

To try and understand him.

To prey on that feeling of on not being understood.

What a shitty way to get to someone.

"I...understand what you mean." Leo sighed. "The clone was really helpful to me as well. It tried so hard to make me feel better and open up. Hell I even helped him a little. Just to know we've been lied too. It's awful. Really awful."

Tension disappeared from Raph's shoulders, he let out a sigh. "Yeah. But the important thing now is finding the real Mikey and taking that clone down."

Leo smiled at Raph. "Yeah lets take that faker out. Once and for all."

And with that Leo left Raph to recover.

Invergrated to start the search for the clone.

Razhar

Bradford didn't know what he was looking at.

Bradford didn't even know why he was here. It was such a degrading task honestly. Apparently some odd energy had been picked up in the last few days by Baxter. Shredder had sent himself and Xever to investigate. That was job you gave to foot bots or the lowest ranked of the foot clan. Not one of your top men. You don't send them out to run all over the city for some hypothesis by some freak of nature like Stinkbug.

Nevertheless Bradford and Xever went out to investigate with no lead besides "something odd." Bradford hated doing this but he could not argue against Shredder.

So when he had smelled only one turtle with no backup he and Xever were....excited to able to find the perfect punching bag for their frustration in the lone turtle. Searching the alley for where the smell came from and finally looking behind a dumpster near the back of the indent.

That's when Bradford saw it.

The two glowing dots seemed like they were boring into Bradford's soul. The eyes, Bradford thinks there eyes, made a large mound of dread start to build in him. They were emotionless, nothing was behind them, the only feeling they invoked was terror.  A deep instinctual fear told him to run. It was almost primal in nature. It felt as if those eyes were telling him to escape while he still could.

Just as fast as Bradford had seen the eyes they disappeared. Bradford quickly shook off the fear he felt. Hell he almost laughed at himself.

Him one of the greatest martial artists to live was scared of some glowing eyes.

Ha!

........

......But still.

Something about those eyes made him scared. Like a child desperately afraid of what is outside of their darkened window as they try to slumber.

"What are you staring at you over grown mutt!" Xever yelled.

Bradford growled, pushing down his fear. "The little turtle is in their." Bradford pointed to the small opening between the dumpster and the wall.

"To much of a coward to come out." Bradford taunted, directed to the small sliver between the wall and garbage.

Xever grinned. "Well I guess than we just have to go in."

Xever walked next to Bradford peeking in to the crack. Razhar bent down to get a better look of the dimley lit spaced.

Standing there was the orange turtle. He wore a cheap looking cloak and sunglasses that blocked out his eyes. Bradford cursed in his head. That glowing was probably some idotic light trick the purple one put in the glasses.

How could he be such a fool?

"Huh look what we have here. We found the stupid one all alone." Xever turned to Bradford. "Do you still not smell the others?"

Bradford sniffed the air and smiled. There were no other turtles for miles.

The orange one had no backup and he would pay for tricking Bradford.

"No." Bradford told Xever. "He is alone. Completely and utterly alone."

A wicked grin spread across the fish face. "Than I guess we must have some fun before he is not."

Xever kicked the orange one in the chest, he stumbled back before falling down deeper in the gap.

"What's the matter no fighting back? This will be no fun!"

Bradford smiled as he picked up the orange turtle from where he had hidden. "I guess he will just have to make him!"

Bradford than threw the turtle against the brick wall on the opposite side of the alleyway.

The turtle layed there unmoving, his sunglasses knocked off and Bradford could have sworn the turtles eyes had a slight orange glow for a moment. But it was hard to tell under the harsh street lamp that shined in the alleyway.

Xever and Bradford approached the still turtle, ready to continue their beat down on the mutant, who was refusing to fight back.

Suddenly Bradford felt his body be violently flinged across the street from the alleyway he was just in.

Bradford's head spinned he could barely register what had just happemed. The sudden invisible force reminded him much of the red haired girl, April, the one with the annoying powers.

Bradford was pretty sure the turtles didn't have the kinds of abilities she possed.

So what the hell just happened?

Was the girl hiding out of sight?

He would have smelled if she was, but there was no scent like the red heads.

Bradford looked back across the street just for him to see that the orange turtle was now floating above Xever as chains seem to appear from no where. Xever dodged the chains and jumped in to the air to try and strike the turtle just for the teen to disappear in a glitter of light, reappearing behind Xever in a similar fashion. Than smacked Xever hard to the ground.

Bradford stood back up and ran across the street to the fight. No turtle was going to make a fool of him. Bradford reached the alleyway and immediately jumped and grabbed the turtle in midair. He was smaller than he was before but that didn't matter to Bradford as he held on to the child.

Bradford thought he had finally beaten the child when Bradford immediately felt his hand start to burn up. At first it was only a slight warmth but in seconds it had felt as if Bradford hand was shoved in to the sun.

Bradford dropped the turtle and fell to his knees gripping his injured hand. Xever had recovered in this time and was now trying to attack the turtle once more. The orange turtle continously dodged his attacks, seemingly knowing where to move before Xever knew where he was attacking.

Bradford looked down at his curled up hand and tried to open it only to find the little skill left on it from was mutation was melted, oozing almost, becoming  tangled in his fur. Bradford had to stop himself from gagging as he felt his pain be replaced with rage.

"You retrenched freak! You are going to pay!" Bradford yelled at the turtle as he dodged another one of Xever's attacks.

The turtle barely looked at Bradford as he continued to dodge Xever's attacks.

This angered Bradford even more.

Bradford charged at the child but before he could even hit him, the turtle had turned in to a ball of light bouncing up to a fire escape.

Bradford barely stopped himself from slamming in to a wall, scrapping his injured hand on the ground which inflamed his pain even more.

"Why do you use cheap tricks to fight us!" Xever yelled out.

"I see it less as cheap tricks and more a gift you are not worthy to posses." The turtles said. His voice sounding distant and far off but also incredibly loud as if he was everywhere but also nowhere.

This kid be it the stupid orange one, or some other entity entirely, was really starting to bug Bradford. Bradford growled as he leaped in the air and went to strike with his good hand.

The turtle once again disappeared before Bradford could strike. Bradford was about to hit the fire escape when he felt something warm and heavy wrap around his leg and drag him down on to the cement ground, hard.

Bradford moved to stand but felt chains wrapped around his body that immediately entangled him, securing him to the floor laying down. Bradford looked over to see that Xever was trapped just like him.

Bradford wildly searched for the brat infuriated to all hell and definitely wanting to give the kid a well deserved beat down. That's when he spotted the turtle up on the roofs ledge looking down.

"You have bored me and now you will stay here. Goodbye."

And with that the brat left and Bradford had someone new to add to his "end on sight" list.

The chains had eventually disappeared right before morning came, so Bradford and Xever had to sneak back to lair before anyone could notice the large dog and fish wandering about.

Bradford was still fuming from the situation as they walked back in to Master's lair.

Xever didn't say anything.

Probably also stewing in the embarrassment of being beaten on a two on one fight with the stupid turtle.

But Bradford was truly starting to consider that thing they fought might not to be the orange turtle. The foe looked similar enough but none of the turtles have done anything like that. The orange also almost didn't speak during the whole fight, something the annoying one takes great pride in.

Something was definitely wrong.

They had arrived back at the lair just before the morning rush. They were currently in hiding unable to stay in their usual lair, so a backup one had to do. They had this lair incase they needed to hide out. It was much similar to their old one, just less flashy and more secretive.

Shredder sat in the middle of the new lair. It did not have a throne room like the old one per say, but it did have a elongated room that had an elegant chair at the end of it with a sky light so it was close enough

"Why did it take you two so long to return?" Shredder asked.

"We are sorry for our late arrival we ran in to some........trouble." Xever responded

"And what kind of trouble was this."

"One of the turtles he.... he was different."

"Different is an understatement." Bradford grumbled.

"I do not see how just one of the turtles could keep you from returning just because he was 'different', all on his own. Which one was it?"

"The orange one? Michelangelo."

Bradford had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at the name. Such a gullible fool shouldn't be named after a master of the arts.

But now something has changed.

The child was much, much less of an airhead now.

"You were held up by the idotic one? How did you let this happen?" Shredder said his voice becoming steely.

Xever tried to open his mouth to speak but Shredder silenced him with a hand motion.

"It does not matter. I will send Tigerclaw, Anton and Steranako to sort this out if he has become such trouble. Maybe they won't be nearly as pathetic as you two. Now leave me."

And just like that the duo turned and made their exit.

Bradford won't lie he was somewhat glad he didn't have to face the orange one right away. Not cause he was scared, far from it he was livid and was itching to pummel the brat. No he was glad because now he had time to prepare for the child and let his hand heal.

Plus watching Tigerclaw, Anton and Steranako all come back most likely defeated by the brat was enough to get Bradford through Shredder's disappointment.

Bradford smiled to himself.

Those three were so fucked