Work Text:
Four brothers hang out under the clouded moon,
Basking in New York City’s noises and light.
They talk and they laugh on a roof out of sight;
It’s too late for duty – and for sleep, too soon.
They may be teenagers but at their center
Lay powers and forces that never tire,
Sparks of energy, everlasting fire –
Often at the service of quips and banter.
The Blue one gushes about a job well done,
The smile of the Red one is nothing but proud,
The Orange one wonders silly things out loud
Of which Purple knows much, yet kindly says none.
“If everything changed,” Orange suddenly asks,
“In another life, or place, or world, or time
Would we keep our colors? Would we still wear masks?
Would we still be ninja turtles fighting crime?”
Red and Blue whistle and start theorizing
Orange happily helps their ideas fuse
But Purple falls silent. His pulse is rising.
Science is calling. Who is he to refuse?
Between dearest walls, he retreats with his tools
In one hand a pen, in the other a cup
Both needed for work – he doesn't make the rules.
Hours become days, still the math won't add up.
As he struggles hard to make equations fit
Something starts nudging at the back of his mind.
He is close – to what? He cannot quite name it
Then, in a split second, dimensions unbind.
It feels like his thoughts
Are now being shared.
He tries to reach out.
Perhaps, if he dared –
Contact.
Confusion.
New realities.
Alternate versions.
Other families.
He sees things that he
doesn’t remember
Unknown memories
blending together.
Echoes of voices,
Tales ancient and new
All of them are his;
All of them are true.
His instincts kick in
The gears start to spin
Narrowing on – There!
The thing they all share –
Struggle. Everywhere.
Missions, miseries
Mortal enemies
Pressure and anger
Menace and danger
Every version of him
Every version of them
They all stand. They all bite.
They all dread and they all fight.
And Purple flinches. Can this be their essence?
Responsibility over insouciance
Honor and duty against opposition
Sacrifice for all without recognition?
No. That can't be it. This isn’t who they are,
Their fate can’t be written with tears shed so far.
In his heart, he knows there must be something more;
With a switch, he feels it, pulsing at the core.
The bad and the good things flow from the same source
And he shifts and pushes to swim up its course.
It all comes from a place of fondness and care
The urge to take risks, to protect and repair
The sense of justice and the dedication
All boundless affection in demonstration.
The feeling is strong. As he follows its trace,
The fragments of truth at once click into place.
There, clear as day, is the universal law:
Across dimensions, the Turtles don’t withdraw.
Lightheaded, Purple comes back to his senses.
His lab feels too small; he needs wider spaces.
He goes to the kitchen – the pizza smells nice
Watches his brothers fight over the last slice
Leans in the doorway and finds himself staring.
His soul is catching up; his heart is flaring.
The familiar shouts of loss and victory
Help him see the fabric of reality.
No matter the world, no matter the plot twists
In every timeline, his family exists.
The rift between their universes is crossed:
Everywhere, there are green heroes in the night
There are masks and colors even when all’s lost
There are sparks and fire ever shining bright
Faith stronger than doubt,
Trust louder than fear
Hope warmer than drought
Love closer than near.