Chapter Text
It should’ve been easy, it’s been months since Splinter’s death, since Shredder’s death, since the foot clan basically dying out. The Kraang aren’t going to bother humanity again or any other aliens. It should’ve easy. It was over. They won. Yet Leo kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
It was grueling worry that consumed Leo. There was always something else. Some great disaster about to come for his family. But there was no evidence to suspect that or validate his concerns. All it could manifest into was causing Leo to sigh as he rewatched Space Heroes. They never say what happens after the five year mission. What happens when it seems like the story ended? How they go on knowing everything they’ve done and seen.
Maybe this lack of action was just causing everything to catch up to him, Leo realized. Everyone horror and nightmare. Every action that put them on death’s door. Everything they would’ve done differently. It was that or Mikey’s cooking which had surprisingly gotten better these days.
Still, trying to get some semblance of normal, the turtles went out for patrol.
“Bet you can’t do my Multi-flip Mutant Mayhem!” Mikey cheered as he preformed his new trick on the skateboard.
Raph grinned as he did a jump on his own board, “Oh, it is on!”
The four teenagers laughed as they skated through the rooftops. It was nice and normal and carefree. It was teenagers doing teenage things. However they were still curious mutant ninja turtles. They were still heroes in their own right. It was this curiosity that caused one to notice something, causing him to lag behind.
“Donnie, don’t tell me we’re going too fast for ya!” Raph taunted.
Mikey joined in, “It does take mad skills to keep up with this speed demon of a turtle.”
“No, it’s just…” Donnie halted to a stop causing his brothers to follow suit, “What’s a bunch of dog owners doing in a construction zone in the middle of the night?”
The brothers looked to where Donnie was pointing to. Sure enough there were two large men each carrying a young dog while wearing tracksuits.
“Aw!” Mikey cooed, “They have such cute puppies!”
“That is weird though,” Leo looked closer at them, “We should go check it out. You know, in case they’re doing bad stuff.”
“Oh really?” Raph came up next to his blue bandanna wearing brother, “You’re just bored.”
“Ralph’s right,” Donnie agreed, “Not every strange thing in New York is somehow a nefarious plot that will destroy the city and/or world that has to involve us in some fashion.” He narrowed his eyes, “But it is weird…”
“Come on,” Leo urged, “Let’s just check it out. If it’s nothing we go back to our skateboarding. It’ll only take a minute. Besides, we’re the protectors of the city. We got to keep it safe.”
“Protectors of this city?” Raph repeated with a metaphorical raised eyebrow.
“Well there was that one time,” Mikey began to count on his fingers, “And then that other time with the Kraang. The Kraang again. Shredder. Kraang— man so much stuff happens here! How do people still live in New York?!”
“Fine,” Raph yielded before some joy emerged on his face. He grinned and cracked his knuckles, “Time to go jump-scare a bunch of humans.”
The group jumped across to where the building was currently being constructed, moving across the steel beams until they flawlessly landed with their weapons drawn.
“Can we help you, gentlemen?” Leo said with a glowing confidence which only caused Raph to scoff.
Yet the two men seemed unfazed, something Donnie quickly picked up on, “Usually they start freaking out by now.”
“It’s because they haven’t gotten a good look at Mikey’s face yet,” Raph joked as he hit his brothers hard on the shell.
“Hey!” Mikey disputed, “I’m adorable.”
A low growl came from the two men, “Turtles…”
“Uh…” Donnie chuckled nervously, “That is correct.”
A finger rose from one of the men. The same voice graveled as they pointed to each turtle, “Blue. Red. Purple. Orange.”
“Great!” Raph scoffed, “It’s just some of New York’s crackheads. They’re probably too high to know what’s going on...”
Raph voice drifted off as the brothers watch a swirl engulf the two men. The dogs’ growling became louder and as the magic dissipated, large hounds took their place. The men from before had transformed into giant creatures unlike anything the turtles had seen before.
“Now that is what I’m talking about!” Raph twirled his sai as Donnie watched in awe.
“This…” the scientist began, “Has to be some form of magic. I can’t think of any science that could pulled this transformation off!”
Leo stepped forward, “What do you want with New York?”
The creature’s voice spoke again, “You.”
The other one spoke, “You are summoned by Baron Draxum, the great alchemist warrior and protector!”
A rune lit up below them and a portal opened. Before the turtles had any time to react they were pulled under, screaming as they fell through. The four landed unceremoniously, the crackling and dim lighting of a lab overtaking them.
“What…?” Donnie slowly got up, looking around. His eyes widened at all the technology, the giant power core in the center, and what looked to be a giant container of mutagen in the center, “This is insane! Is that a multi-dimensional power core with an eighth degree converter?”
“What super villain lab are we in now?” Leo stood up along with the rest of his brothers.
Suddenly a booming voice echoed through the room, “You four! The turtle warriors!”
Holographic screens came to life showing the turtles in action fight the foot clan, Kraang, and other mutants. Some fights older than others but all pointing too that whoever had complied these videos had been watching the four for a long time.
At the highest point of the lab, another creature, this time with a strange helmet with horns, descended down the steps.
“I have been watching you four for quite some time and I have to say,” he threw his arms wide open, “You four are incredible! I couldn’t be more proud!”
Proud? The turtles enchanted glances. What was this guy on about?
Leo raised his swords, “Who are you? And why did you want to meet us?”
The creature stopped, “It is I, Baron Draxum! Did Yoshi never mention me?”
“You knew Sensei?”
“Yes, I did,” Baron Draxum frowned, “I’m afraid I only recently learned of his passing. For that you four have my sincerest condolences.”
“Sooo,” Mikey drawled, “How did you know Sensei Splinter?”
“Oh, yes, that,” Draxum cleared his throat and declared dramatically, “Turtles! I am your father!”
Mickey’s hands shot up to his face in horror, “NOOOOOO!”
Peaking out behind his brother, Donnie asked, “I’m sorry, who are you again?”
“I literally just—“ Draxum sputtered, “I am Barron Draxum! The Warrior Alchemist! Protector of the Yokai! I am your father!”
“Wait, you’re a Yokai?” Leo’s eyes widened, “Like from all those tells Sensei used to tell us?”
Ralph’s eyes narrowed, “Didn’t he say not to trust Yokai?”
“That is a hurtful generalization!” Draxum snapped.
Donnie tilted his head in thought, “You did just kidnap us.”
Draxum narrowed his eyes, “Watch your tone, young turtle.”
“And what do you mean you’re our father?” Raph asked.
“Yeah!” Mikey agreed, “Where’s the milk we’re promised?!”
“The milk? What milk?” Draxum said in confusion, “Just because I created you four doesn’t mean I have mammary glands!”
Mikey’s eyes widened, “Are you our mom?”
“No, I’m you’re father—“
“What did you mean you created us?” Donnie asked, “We were created by accident when Sensei had a scuffle with the Kraang.”
“The Kraang?!” Draxum stood agape, “I can’t believe that old fool decided to credit your creation to the Kraang! Especially after I infused the mystic arts and Yoshi’s DNA into that mutagen that we worked TOGETHER to steal!”
“Wait,” Leo began, “Why did Sensei never mention you?”
From atop of a railing a gargoyle like Yokai said, “He’s probably just bitter.”
The fellow gargoyle agreed, “Or stuck in some tragic romance over losing the Baron.”
“Maybe he was so sad about the divorce he spent years crying about it and couldn’t bring up the painful memories,” the first one added.
The second nodded, “Just like the Baron after they first split up—“
“That is enough!” Draxum immediately yelled over the two.
“Sorry!”
“You’re doing great boss!”
“Wonderful first impressions!”
“You’re proving why you should’ve gotten custody in the first place!”
“So those are totally evil henchmen,” Donnie whispered to Raph.
“Oh one hundred percent,” Raph agreed.
“Whelp, this is guy is insane. Maybe we should slowly step back and leave,” Leo suggested causing his brothers to follow suit.
“Hey Barry!” Mikey ignored his brother’s warning, “So if Splinter was our dad, are your our mom—“
“—Other dad,” he corrected quickly.
“Were you two, like, a thing?”
The three other turtles froze.
“Mikey—“
“—you did not just ask—“
“—about our deceased dad’s dating life!”
“Huh?” Draxum raised an eyebrow from under his mask, “Yes, you could say we were a romantic duo drawn together by the powers of fate and desire for protection and change. Your father was a powerful man dedicated to a world of good. The walls I had to break down for him to accept what we were. And was it worth it! Those abs he had—“
“Ew!”
“Nope!”
“Bleh!”
“Annnnd we’re leaving.”
The Baron rolled his eyes, “Teenagers,” he moved in front of the turtles, “Wait! How could you four leave? Don’t you want to learn about my side of the family? About the Yokai and their magic? I can train you in ways Yoshi never knew! An entire new world is at your fingertips and you’re just going to give it up?”
“Listen up,“ Raph eyed the Baron, “We have no idea who you are nor what your real connection to Splinter is. And we literally just met you! Like hell we’re actually going to trust whatever this is!”
“Respectfully Draxum,” Mikey slid up, “You’re kind of checking all the evil super villains boxes.”
“I apologize,” Draxum said stiffly, “I just had assumed you four would be tired of living on your own without any support,” he walked away from the turtles, his back turned to them, “How foolish of me it was, to think I could interest you four with the idea of becoming stronger, a new form of technology that blended with the mystic, magical weapons, and a desire to work together to make our home a better place.”
The turtles paused as the lights dimmed further. The gargoyles flew over head with a spotlight, shinning it down on the Baron.
“It has always been my greatest regret how things ended with Hamato Yoshi. How he ended up taking you four. And now he is gone and I never had the chance to make amends. But you four are here now. With him gone it has made me realize how valuable our time is. I wish to spend it with you, to be by your side and support you. To get to know you during a time I know when you are struggling. Mourning the loss of a loved one. I cannot undo my actions… yet I want to do right by you four. To be the parent I should’ve been.”
The four brothers exchanged glances and gestures before Leo finally sighed, “I guess we could stay a little bit…”
“Yay!” Mikey cheered as the light went back to normal and the gargoyles unleashed confetti.
“Hold on a minute,” Raph stepped past his brothers, “Didn’t you say something about magical weapons?”
“And magic like technology?” Donnie added.
“And something about being a good guy?” Leo added hopefully.
Mikey hugged the giant Yokai catching him off guard, “And something about being family?!”
“Wait!” Leo said suddenly while pulling Mikey off, “Before we do anything you’re telling us how exactly you met Sensei.”
Draxum sighed, “It is a long story, one best discussed over a meal. I have the great Yokai chefs at my disposal so just make a request, and I will have it made.”
The turtles cheered in unison, “Pizza!”
“Yes to all of you,” Draxum said in a strained voice, “I will find the best Yokai pizza the Hidden City has to offer.” His voice changed as a slow smile spread on his lips, “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you decided to stay.”