BD par IA: Rise of the Teenage mutant ninja turtles It had been a few months since the invasion. The turtle brothers were mostly healed up physically. Still an occasional ache here and a tremor there. They were released from the confined prison they called the med bay. Mentally speaking, the oldest brother was still on the overprotective side. It took a lot of begging to get Raph to give the okay to patrol the surface. Despite his big brother's instincts, they managed to break him. With promises to turn back if someone even received the smallest of scratches, they took their leave. They took in the sights before them. The city had a beautiful ambient glow to it. The crisp, chilled air kissed their skin, causing goosebumps to form. The lively sounds of late-night life filled their ears. The city was a beacon of hope that everything was going to be okay. The feeling of a heavy weight was lifted off their chests with this new sense of freedom. Something they had longed for since the invasion. Mikey cheered as he leaped from roof to roof. With a nod of approval and a smile on their faces, his brothers were quick to follow. During a late-night patrol, they encountered some foot soldiers attempting to break into an abandoned factory. One that, surprisingly, was left untouched by the invasion. The brothers were unsure of what the foot clan was looking for, but they knew they had to stop them if their intentions were malicious. With the fear of a possible return of Shredder looming over them, After being out of commission for so long, Raph and Leo are eager to bash some heads. They've been itching for a fight. The foot clan was quick to strike first. Summoning origami constructs to protect the clansmen that were still scavenging. "Yay, arts and crafts!" Mikey shouts excitedly while jumping for joy. "Big Man, stay focused, okay?" Raph says as he cracks his knuckles. "Let's do this!" Raph takes them head-on with brute strength. Only to be pushed back by their growing numbers. Leo portals from behind them, slashing them into confetti. In the heat of battle, Mikey was oblivious to the lurking brute advancing towards him from behind. Donnie comes to notice Mikey acting strangely. His little brother stands still mid-fight, staring at nothing. His eyes start to glow. It doesn't last long, and His face was masked by temporary confusion. Donnie finds the behavior odd but tucks that feeling into his memory bank to reopen later. He was in mid-battle, of course. Donnie shouts at Mikey in the hope that his words will reach him. Despite his efforts, Mikey is left unfazed by his brother's attempt to alert him. By the time Mikey notices, his legs have rebelled against him, causing him to stumble to the ground and now be prone to the incoming attack. Donnie swoops in just in time to block the attack with his Bo staff. Donnie turns his staff into a turret and blasts it at the brute. The fight turns in favor of the turtles, who are now fighting for the sake of protecting their baby brother. The number of constructs remaining dwindles. The foot clan retreats, making a clean getaway. Mikey's older brothers approached him with concern. "Mikey, what's going on? Are you hurt?" Mikey shook his head, trying to clear the fog that seemed to be clouding his mind. "I don't know, guys. I just feel... off." Leo checks him over for any immediate injuries but fails to find any. He struggles to sit up, and Raph offers a helping hand. Mikey, he feels fatigued. His eyelids begin to close "Micheal, little brother, just rest; we will take care of you," Donnie reassures him. Adjusting Mikey onto Raph's back, careful of his spikes, they make their way back to the lair. ******************************** Back at the Lair, They have checked one Mikey into the medical bay. Raph paces back and forth. Grabbing his head tightly, his eyes threaten to shed tears. "Raph knew this was a bad idea. Raph knew it! We weren't ready to go back up to the surface! It's my job to protect you all, and Raph failed! Now Mikey's hurt because of me! I'm so stupid!" Raph cries out. Raph's breathing picks up, and he gasps for air. Before a full-on panic attack takes place, Leo places both hands on Raph's tear-drenched face. Grounding him back to reality. "Woah, woah, woah, calm down, big guy, relax. We don't want you to grow a bigger Raph worry chasm! We all made that decision together. We all decided we were ready to get back out there. What happened could have been several things. Low blood sugar, low blood pressure—the aftereffects of an adrenaline rush Even lack of sleep could be a factor. I know we have all had our share of restless nights from nightmares. " Leo calmly reassures "Leon is right for the time being, and we will monitor him closely. At the moment, his vitals seem normal. A bit of rest may do him some good. It may do us all a bit of good," Donnie states. All of them looked at each other. With an unspoken agreement, a turtle pile in the Med Bay was in order. The bothers gathered the softest pillows in the lair that they could find. With the addition of an oversized weighted blanket sprawled over the top of all of them, they all fell into a deep slumber. After a few days in the medical bay, summing it up to just being a bit of fatigue, Leo cleared Mikey with a clean bill of health. Leo made him promise that he would take more breaks and rest as needed. And if he didn't listen to his doctor's order, he would sick Raphie on him. Mikey certainly wasn't in the mood for some big brother-mother henning. The sheer thought of it made him grimace. His brother's overprotective tendencies reached a whole new level after the invasion. Being babied felt downright smothering. He knew his brother's hearts were in the right place, but deep down, he wished to see him as more than just the baby of the family. Leaving the medical bay was a relief to Mikey. Not only was he antsy and needed to move around, but he couldn't choke down one more of his brother's science experiments that they called meals. The next morning, after a well-rested night of sleep, Mikey got up early, eager to cook his family an extra special thank-you breakfast for taking such good care of him. Looking back on it, he mentally kicks himself for making them worry over something as small as him being a little bit tired. He acted so childish and useless. What would have happened if one of his brothers had gotten hurt? All because he couldn't stay focused on the task at hand. He clenches his fists. Digging his nails into his palms. "Mikey, you are spiraling again." Dr. Feeling reminds him. He unclenches his fists, staring at the indents left behind. He takes a deep breath and exhales to calm himself. Right back to what he was doing! Focus Mikey Focus! Turning back to the task at hand. He decided on something easy like pancakes since his hands still had a bit of a tremor. Luckily because of Donnie and Leo, they were getting better over time. After a few attempts and one large mess, he managed to make some blueberry pancakes for Leo, plain pancakes cooked at the perfect temperature with syrup on the side for Donnie, and last but not least, some maple bacon pancakes for Raphie. His brothers arrive as he just finished placing their plates on the table and filling their juice glasses to the brim. All that was left was Donnie's coffee, which was finishing brewing then walked they walk in. Leo and Raph complement the mouthwatering aroma Donnie praises his cooking ability as a work of art. A true masterpiece as the favors dance upon his taste buds. Mikey reaches for a mug for Donnie's coffee, only to freeze in place. Body stuck in idle. Thirsty from the pancakes, Donnie glances up at Mikey, noticing he is not moving. Frozen in place. Donnie stands up and walks over to Mikey, noticing him staring off into space. Blinking at an alarming rate. Donnie places a hand on Mikey's shoulder, hoping to get his little brother's attention. The sudden touch results in Mikey's hand jerking, causing coffee mugs to rain down from the cabinet. Ceramic mugs explode from impact and litter the ground below his feet. The sound alerts the other two. They scrambled to their feet to help with the mess and to check for injuries to their younger siblings. The floor looks like a morbid mosaic. Shards scattered about mixed with blood from cuts that ran up and down Mikey's legs. A grasp escapes his lips before his legs give out. Raph catches him before he can cause more damage. A faint glow on Mikey's arms caught Donnie's eye before his little brother fainted in Raph's arms. ************************************** He huffed loudly in annoyance at his brothers for forcing him to bed rest. Just moments before, he was told "it was for his own good. Only wishing that whatever ails him will be resolved with a bit more rest. Still unsure of the origin of these odd symptoms, they want to be extra careful." "They see you as an annoying pest; no wonder they grounded you. You're being overly dramatic! Things just started to become normal for your family, and you had to ruin it. So selfish!" That hate-filled voice was back, with no sign of an appearance by Dr. Feelings in sight. Mikey curled up in a tight ball. Rocking back and forth. Muffling his cries with his balled-up blanket and Drenching his pillow with tears Soon he would fall into an unruly slumber. Nightmares plagued him about the invasion and filled his heart with self-doubt. In the middle of his nightmare of him failing to save his brother, the portal closed before Leo could reach it, and he flung himself out of his hammock. Landing on the ground below with a loud thud. He woke silently, thanking Pizza supreme that no one heard him. Catching his breath, he scoots his back against the wall. Lifting his hands to wipe his tear-drenched face, his arms burst in agonizing pain. He bites down hard on his lip to keep a loud sob from escaping. After a few minutes, the pain subsides. A faint glow illuminated the scars on his arm. On closer inspection, he notices small sparks gathering near his fingertips. They don't last long, as they disappear before his eyes. As they fade away, a strong feeling of being electrocuted surges through his whole body. A strange sensation feeling fills his head. His balance is rocked by a sudden wave of dizziness. He tries to pull himself up off the floor, but it's no use. He tugs hard on the closest thing to him unplugging the cord from his string lights on the wall. They came colliding down on top of his body. He struggles to leave their hold, but before he has time to act or call out for help, his body convulses violently. Without the help of his brothers, he is left to suffer alone in the darkness. Hours later, Raph is unable to sleep. Deciding he'd stretch his legs and take a walk around the lair wouldn't hurt. Raph's mind would be more at ease. He might have gotten a little bit distracted in the kitchen with a late-night snack. Hey! In his defense, it's not good to do a patrol on an empty stomach! Good, no spooky scaries in the kitchen; now to check on Pops and my brothers. Pops ended up falling asleep in front of his projector while watching a rerun of one of his old Lou Jitsu movies. Doesn't dare shut it off and instead settles for turning down the volume. He gathers the closest blanket and covers his dad up. Next up was to check up on Donnie. Donnie's lab door was open just a crack. Raph peeks in to see that Donnie has fallen asleep due to overworking him again. Desk littered with medical books and used coffee mugs. An old Yōkai book on mystic powers caught his eye. He must have obtained it from Draxum. Not thinking much more of it, he notices that Don is still wearing his battle shell. He shakes his head in frustration and unlocks it with a hiss. He sets the battle shell beside the desk, accidentally knocking it over in the process. Despite the noise of it colliding with the ground, Donnie doesn't stir. Raph chuckles and thinks to himself, "Oh yeah, he's out cold." Lifting his brother with ease, he carries Don to his room, only to be stopped by the soft-shelled turtle's twin. Leo's brow furrowed in worry. Raph waved him off, explaining that Donnie fell asleep working and that he was going to get a good night's sleep in his own bed tonight. Leo's shoulders relax in relief. Leo promises he'll do the same after a glass of water. Raph seems to believe Leo and makes his way to Donnie's. He gently sets his brother down on the bed and tucks him into his favorite purple weighted blanket. He removes Don's goggles and mask, setting them on the end table next to his bed. Not once does he stir. An eerie feeling fills Raph. He pushes these feelings down and reminds himself that his brother is fine; he just needs well-rested sleep. With one last glance, he shuts off the light and takes his leave. Okay, Pop's sleeping; Donnie's tucked in bed. He glances at Leo's room, and as he passes it, the light is off, confirming he kept his promise. 3 down, 1 to go. With a satisfied grunt, he makes his way to Mikey's. Something about the trip to his baby brother's room felt wrong. That eerie feeling was back. He felt so anxious and a bit sick to his stomach. What if Mikey's mad at Raph for "grounding" him until he recovers? He knows it was for the best, though the recent events of the past few weeks have shaken them all up a bit. As he reaches for Mikey's door, Big Brother's senses are going crazy. His heart was nearly beating out of his chest. He braces himself and pushes the door open. Revealing a dark bedroom, which is odd to him because since Mikey was a toddler, he's always been a bit scared of the dark. He bends down to plug in the lights. That's weird the light is glowing from below, not above him. He reaches down to pick up the lights off the floor, and that's when he notices a figure lying on the floor. MIKEY! Raph fell to his knees tugging on the lights to free his brother. Finally, Mikey is no longer in a tangled mess. Raph takes in the sight in front of him. His baby brother's body lays limp on the floor in a puddle of vomit. He was breathing heavily, and his face was soaked with sweat. He gently shakes him but nothing seems to faze him. The feeling of dread makes his stomach churn. Forcing out a breath he yells for Leo. "Leo h-elp, Leo help it's Mikey somethings wrong!" He cries out hysterically. "Come on Big man wake up for Raphie" He chokes out a cry "Please wake up" Raph begs and pleads Leo dashes his way into the room with a first aid kit in hand. The sleep from his eyes is now nonexistent. "Oh shit, shit, shit shit! No time to panic you've gotta stay in Doctor mode of Mikey's sake!"Leo reminds himself He leans down to listen to his plastron heart rate and his breathing sounded normal. He checked to make sure his airways were clear. With a feather-light touch, he inspects Mikey's body. Only appears to have light bruising on his skin, he guesses it's caused by the fall from the hammock. It looks safe enough to move him. He puts Mikey on his side and rubs his shell in comforting circles. "Hermano can you hear us? It will be okay please just open your eyes," Leo said calmly "Please Mikester show us those beautiful baby blues of yours buddy." Leo continued. Raph puts his big palm on Mikey's head petting it gently. Mikey's breath quickened as began to wake. Blurry shades of blue and red were the first things he sees. The figures holding concerned frowns on their faces. They were trying to talk to him but words came out muddled and distorted. He struggled to concentrate, everything he felt was thrown into chaos. Everything was too loud or too bright. There was crying which turned into full-on walling. Why, who was crying? Too loud, too loud, too loud, make it stop, Make it stop, MAKE IT STOP! he begged. Each breath he took felt as if he was drowning. Gasping as if each breath was his last. The voices were back telling me something important. "Focus you must focus you can do it," Mikey tells himself Raph takes Mikey into his lap and places him against his plastron. "Mikey, Focus on my breathing, That's right just like that. Come on you can do it!" Raph finally gets through to his little brother and his breathing evens out. Mikey's body relaxes in Raphs embrace. Tears running down his face. With a shakey breath opens his mouth to speak. "W re am I, what hap in?" Mikey slurs Raph and Leo both meet each other's eyes not sure how to answer. Their little brothers slurring words among other symptoms are concerning. Leo was the first to speak. "Well, brother we are not quite sure. What can you remember? " "We need any detail you can give us. No symptom or event is too small." Leo assured him "Did something happen besides your fall? Did anything feel off?." Raph added *********************************** Donnie woke up in his bed with no memory of how got there. Nor did he care. After a short cat nap, he feels well-rested and ready to tackle the problem he's been dwelling on for some time. Mikey. Thinking back on it his little brother has always had a weaker immune system than the rest of his brothers. It always seemed to take a lot longer for him to recover from illnesses and injuries. Deep down Donnie hopes that whatever disorder is causing his brother so much distress can be fixed simply with rest. His brother has always been the most caring and in touch with his feelings. He's always taking care of others before himself and tends to overwork himself while doing so. Donnie's mind fills with dread the more he thinks about the subject. He tells himself that a quick trip to Mikey's room will ease his mind. But first, he has to pee like right now "Oh my god why did I have to drink that much coffee? My bladder is about to burst." Donnie jumps up from the bed and makes a mad dash towards the bathroom. As Donnie was making his way to the bathroom, he noticed a soft glow emanating from Mikey's room. He couldn't resist wanting to investigate, and as he got closer, he heard hushed whispers filling the air. He was so engrossed that his full bladder was long forgotten. He crept into the dark room. Donnie takes in the sight before him. His brothers were sitting cross-legged on the floor, and Raph was holding Mikey up to his chest. It looked like they were sharing an emotional moment, and he felt like he had intruded on their privacy. But then He noticed the first aid kit on the floor, and everything fell into place. Leo spots Donnie standing in the doorway. Donnie looks to like he's losing an internal battle with himself. But before panic has time to sink in Leo calls over his Twin. Cautiously he joined them on the floor He noticed that Mikey's eyes were drooping, indicating that he was struggling to stay awake. Donnie spoke up. "Angelo, Eyes on us, it's imperative that you stay awake!" It was taking all Mikey had in him to concentrate on his brothers." 'm tired, o sor" Mikey slurred tiredly. His words were coming out garbled and so slow. Alarms were going off. His brothers were worried and uncertain about what had caused his sudden decline. Leo tried to figure out the reason for Mikey's fall from his hammock, but it remained unknown. Unable to fight it any longer Mikey's eyelids fell closed. After a few hours past Mikey had woken up in Med Bay to a bright light, causing his head to ache. At first, he was a bit confused but soon after his memory was piecing itself back together like a puzzle. Donnie was the first one to notice his distress and told S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. to dim the light. With the lights at an acceptable level, Mikey's body relaxed. Donnie felt relieved that he was able to ease some of his little brother's discomfort. Donnie walked over and put his hand on Mikey's head. Rubbing it in a comforting motion. Mikey leaned into the touch. "Angelo, Can you tell me how you are feeling?" Donnie questioned him quietly "Um, well my head hurts a bit and my body is kinda sore" Mikey replied Donnie nods, as he listened He is jotting down his answers on a white dry-erase board. "Right now are you having trouble seeing or having a hard time concentrating?" Donnie asks "Or any dizziness?" Mikey ponders a minute to take stock of his body's condition. None of those symptoms are what he's feeling at the moment. He shakes his head no. Before Donnie could ask another question Leo and Raph enter the Med bay. "MIKEY!" They both shouted at once. Causing Mikey to cover his ears to block out the erupting sound. Grimacing as it makes his head pound. "Sorry Hermano we just got a little bit excited seeing that you were awake," Leo whispered "Yeah, Sorry Big man we will try to keep the volume done a bit" Raph reassured. "Raph's Just so happy seeing you up. I was so scared when I found you lying on your bedroom floor." He says as he wraps his arms around Mikey for a hug. "Ah man look what you did, you went and made your brothers worry again. Why do I have to be such a burden? Why can't everything go back to normal." Mikey internally scolds himself. " Mikey, everyone's wounds take time to heal some more than others." Dr. Feeling consoles. Mikey shakes in head rid the negative thoughts from his mind. He clutching to his the blankets tightly. Shoulders trembling he began to sob. Raph takes notice of this holds him tighter and rocks him back and forth. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Mikey covers his mouth with a shaky hand. Trying to hold back another sob. Donnie hushes Mikey as he wipes the tears from his face. 'Hey, hey, no need to apologize little brother." "He's right none of that" Raph agreed "I don't know what's happening to me," Mikey said anxiously Leo put a hand on Mikey's shoulder, reassuring him. "Then let us help you understand. What can you remember? When did your symptoms start?" Mikey struggled to recall the events leading up to his confusion, but eventually, it came to him. "I remember feeling a strange sensation in my head during the fight and again in the kitchen. It was like a wave of dizziness, I felt disconnected and then everything went hazy from there." Donnie recalls noticing Mikey acting strangely. His little brother standing still during mid-fight, staring at nothing. Though doesn't last long Mikey was stuck in a state of confusion. Then it happened again in the kitchen with the added symptoms of a muscle spasm and some rapid. That's when it dawns on him "Stupid, how could I forget such an important detail? Mikey's Ninpo activated causing his hands to glow!" Donnie mentally scolds himself. Donnie opens to speak but is cut off by Mikey. Mikey continues shyly "I-I had a nightmare last night ab-bout the invasion. I couldn't save Leo" Mikey sobs out "It frighted me so much that I woke up on the floor, I tried to calm myself down, but before I could pain shot through my arms, It took everything in me to keep myself from crying out in pain. Then pain subsides. The scars on my arms started to glow. Sparks like lightning gathered near my fingertips. They didn't last long, but as soon as they faded away. I remember feeling that same strange sensation in my head, I felt so dizzy, couldn't stand, and then everything went black." Seeing how stressed and tired Mikey looked Raph thought it would be a good time for him to take a break. "You did good buddy, how about you take a nap, and let your big bothers figure things out from here." That earned Raph a toothy grin from Mikey as he settled him back down in bed. Leo looks up at the notes Donnie had written. The symptoms were laid out in the open for them all to see. Raph walks over to add emotional distress and panic attacks to the list. After hours of skimming through every medical book and scrolling through every medical research site known to man. Leo spoke up with confidence understanding the situation. "It sounds like Mikey might have had a seizure. "Okay, so that's not good any idea what causes it? Raph asked "Well from my observations dearest Brother, I believe his Ninpo is activating on its own. In other words, they are glitching out, and finding a way to control them might not be an easy task." Donnie answered with uncertainty. "Well, don't you have that old Yōkai book on mystic powers?" Raph recalled "Oh well, that, Deep Sigh. The book is full of Yōkai rituals. I'm a man of Science. Most of the rituals are gibberish to me. I'm still learning the basics, and as much as I like using you guys as guinea pigs for my beta testing."Donnie explained "And I'm not risking Mikey's life if I fail." He said in a whisper of doubt. "Whoa, Donnie we wouldn't ask you to do anything that would risk his life. Maybe Pops or Draxum... That's It, Draxum. Why didn't we call him sooner? He's gotta know what's goin' on with Mikey!." Raph exclaimed "Oh no not Draxum, No No NO! Why can't anyone seem to remember... " Raph and Donnie cut Leo off "We know, he threw you off a building. Can we move on from this?" Leo sighs "Fine, But if you guys end up a pancake on a busy sidewalk don't go crying to me!" Donnie shook his head at his Twin's antics before giving Draxum a call. During their conversation, Donnie explains that Mikey had been experiencing epilepsy episodes. "WHY AM I NOW JUST HEARING ABOUT THIS." Donnie pulls his T-phone from his head. "Oh fuck, We're in trouble now!" Leo shouts "Language Leo! And Oh we are" Raph agreed Draxum immediately expressed concern and wants to ensure he receives proper care and attention. And with the promise of coming over soon, he hung up. *************************** Mikey was stirred awake by shouting coming from outside of the Med Bay. The automatic door hiss open "And another thing if you don't tell me if something like this happens again, then don't talk to me or my son ever again!" The slams shut in his brother's face. Mikey can't help but laugh. He grinned cheek to cheek. Draxum is still fuming from the argument but his expression softens in worry. "Michelangelo" Seeing his "son" lying in a hospital bed made him look so fragile. As if he could turn to dust with a mere touch. "Barry! I miss you so much!" Mikey says tiredly but with a smile on his face. He opens his arms inviting Draxum to hug him. Draxum accepted the hug but with caution. "My dear boy, you do not look well." Mikey shook his head in response. Tear cascade down his face. Drax with a gentle hand wipes the tears from Mikey's face. "Shh, It's alright dear ol' Dad is here to help." Mikey relaxes and then simply nods. ***************************** Everyone soon joins Draxum and Mikey in the Med Bay. Draxum suggests an ancient healing ritual that could activate Mikey's dormant mystic powers. Draxum explained that Mikey had too much mystic energy trapped within him, like a dam blocking a river stream. Without a proper flow of mystic energy, his health would deteriorate at an alarming rate. Draxum began explaining the ritual giving each bothers their task. Their jobs sounded simple enough. All they needed to do was meditate and guide Mikey's energy to Draxum. The Draxum would take it from there. By no means could it be that easy. They all fell into meditation when a cold chill filled the room, and the sound of a child crying echoed in their minds. They were all overwhelmed by emotions and sorrow causing the ritual to waver. His mystic energy grew intensely like a raging wildfire burning bright and strong, but also unpredictable and potentially dangerous if not properly controlled. Fiery chains surrounded Mikey's body in a frenzy. His body levitated off the bed convulsing violently. Draxum took over guiding the brothers, just as firefighters battle to control a wildfire and they prevented it from spreading out of control. With this help they were able to channel and direct that power, allowing it to burn bright without causing harm. Just like a wildfire can be harnessed for good. The chains of fire gracefully float around Mikey's form. The mesmerizing spectacle left them all breathless. The chains seemed to swirl and dance around him. As if they were happy and full of joy. His eyes began to glow with an otherworldly aura Draxum smiled at Mikey, knowing that they had unlocked something extraordinary within Him. Over time, Mikey's seizures lessened, and with the help of Draxum Mikey will learn how to become more in tune with his newly unlocked mystic powers. Through dedication and hard work, Mikey believes that he can become a master of his mystic powers. And live up to the potential just as future Casey said he would be.
Réalisé par Saddielynn
Détails du contenu
Informations du média
Interaction avec les utilisateurs
À propos de cette œuvre par IA
Description
Invitation à créer
Engagement
Saddielynn
Saddielynn
Rise of the Teenage mutant ninja turtles It had been a few months since the invasion. The turtle brothers were mostly healed up physically. Still an occasional ache here and a tremor there. They were released from the confined prison they called the med bay. Mentally speaking, the oldest brother was still on the overprotective side. It took a lot of begging to get Raph to give the okay to patrol the surface. Despite his big brother's instincts, they managed to break him. With promises to turn back if someone even received the smallest of scratches, they took their leave. They took in the sights before them. The city had a beautiful ambient glow to it. The crisp, chilled air kissed their skin, causing goosebumps to form. The lively sounds of late-night life filled their ears. The city was a beacon of hope that everything was going to be okay. The feeling of a heavy weight was lifted off their chests with this new sense of freedom. Something they had longed for since the invasion. Mikey cheered as he leaped from roof to roof. With a nod of approval and a smile on their faces, his brothers were quick to follow. During a late-night patrol, they encountered some foot soldiers attempting to break into an abandoned factory. One that, surprisingly, was left untouched by the invasion. The brothers were unsure of what the foot clan was looking for, but they knew they had to stop them if their intentions were malicious. With the fear of a possible return of Shredder looming over them, After being out of commission for so long, Raph and Leo are eager to bash some heads. They've been itching for a fight. The foot clan was quick to strike first. Summoning origami constructs to protect the clansmen that were still scavenging. "Yay, arts and crafts!" Mikey shouts excitedly while jumping for joy. "Big Man, stay focused, okay?" Raph says as he cracks his knuckles. "Let's do this!" Raph takes them head-on with brute strength. Only to be pushed back by their growing numbers. Leo portals from behind them, slashing them into confetti. In the heat of battle, Mikey was oblivious to the lurking brute advancing towards him from behind. Donnie comes to notice Mikey acting strangely. His little brother stands still mid-fight, staring at nothing. His eyes start to glow. It doesn't last long, and His face was masked by temporary confusion. Donnie finds the behavior odd but tucks that feeling into his memory bank to reopen later. He was in mid-battle, of course. Donnie shouts at Mikey in the hope that his words will reach him. Despite his efforts, Mikey is left unfazed by his brother's attempt to alert him. By the time Mikey notices, his legs have rebelled against him, causing him to stumble to the ground and now be prone to the incoming attack. Donnie swoops in just in time to block the attack with his Bo staff. Donnie turns his staff into a turret and blasts it at the brute. The fight turns in favor of the turtles, who are now fighting for the sake of protecting their baby brother. The number of constructs remaining dwindles. The foot clan retreats, making a clean getaway. Mikey's older brothers approached him with concern. "Mikey, what's going on? Are you hurt?" Mikey shook his head, trying to clear the fog that seemed to be clouding his mind. "I don't know, guys. I just feel... off." Leo checks him over for any immediate injuries but fails to find any. He struggles to sit up, and Raph offers a helping hand. Mikey, he feels fatigued. His eyelids begin to close "Micheal, little brother, just rest; we will take care of you," Donnie reassures him. Adjusting Mikey onto Raph's back, careful of his spikes, they make their way back to the lair. ******************************** Back at the Lair, They have checked one Mikey into the medical bay. Raph paces back and forth. Grabbing his head tightly, his eyes threaten to shed tears. "Raph knew this was a bad idea. Raph knew it! We weren't ready to go back up to the surface! It's my job to protect you all, and Raph failed! Now Mikey's hurt because of me! I'm so stupid!" Raph cries out. Raph's breathing picks up, and he gasps for air. Before a full-on panic attack takes place, Leo places both hands on Raph's tear-drenched face. Grounding him back to reality. "Woah, woah, woah, calm down, big guy, relax. We don't want you to grow a bigger Raph worry chasm! We all made that decision together. We all decided we were ready to get back out there. What happened could have been several things. Low blood sugar, low blood pressure—the aftereffects of an adrenaline rush Even lack of sleep could be a factor. I know we have all had our share of restless nights from nightmares. " Leo calmly reassures "Leon is right for the time being, and we will monitor him closely. At the moment, his vitals seem normal. A bit of rest may do him some good. It may do us all a bit of good," Donnie states. All of them looked at each other. With an unspoken agreement, a turtle pile in the Med Bay was in order. The bothers gathered the softest pillows in the lair that they could find. With the addition of an oversized weighted blanket sprawled over the top of all of them, they all fell into a deep slumber. After a few days in the medical bay, summing it up to just being a bit of fatigue, Leo cleared Mikey with a clean bill of health. Leo made him promise that he would take more breaks and rest as needed. And if he didn't listen to his doctor's order, he would sick Raphie on him. Mikey certainly wasn't in the mood for some big brother-mother henning. The sheer thought of it made him grimace. His brother's overprotective tendencies reached a whole new level after the invasion. Being babied felt downright smothering. He knew his brother's hearts were in the right place, but deep down, he wished to see him as more than just the baby of the family. Leaving the medical bay was a relief to Mikey. Not only was he antsy and needed to move around, but he couldn't choke down one more of his brother's science experiments that they called meals. The next morning, after a well-rested night of sleep, Mikey got up early, eager to cook his family an extra special thank-you breakfast for taking such good care of him. Looking back on it, he mentally kicks himself for making them worry over something as small as him being a little bit tired. He acted so childish and useless. What would have happened if one of his brothers had gotten hurt? All because he couldn't stay focused on the task at hand. He clenches his fists. Digging his nails into his palms. "Mikey, you are spiraling again." Dr. Feeling reminds him. He unclenches his fists, staring at the indents left behind. He takes a deep breath and exhales to calm himself. Right back to what he was doing! Focus Mikey Focus! Turning back to the task at hand. He decided on something easy like pancakes since his hands still had a bit of a tremor. Luckily because of Donnie and Leo, they were getting better over time. After a few attempts and one large mess, he managed to make some blueberry pancakes for Leo, plain pancakes cooked at the perfect temperature with syrup on the side for Donnie, and last but not least, some maple bacon pancakes for Raphie. His brothers arrive as he just finished placing their plates on the table and filling their juice glasses to the brim. All that was left was Donnie's coffee, which was finishing brewing then walked they walk in. Leo and Raph complement the mouthwatering aroma Donnie praises his cooking ability as a work of art. A true masterpiece as the favors dance upon his taste buds. Mikey reaches for a mug for Donnie's coffee, only to freeze in place. Body stuck in idle. Thirsty from the pancakes, Donnie glances up at Mikey, noticing he is not moving. Frozen in place. Donnie stands up and walks over to Mikey, noticing him staring off into space. Blinking at an alarming rate. Donnie places a hand on Mikey's shoulder, hoping to get his little brother's attention. The sudden touch results in Mikey's hand jerking, causing coffee mugs to rain down from the cabinet. Ceramic mugs explode from impact and litter the ground below his feet. The sound alerts the other two. They scrambled to their feet to help with the mess and to check for injuries to their younger siblings. The floor looks like a morbid mosaic. Shards scattered about mixed with blood from cuts that ran up and down Mikey's legs. A grasp escapes his lips before his legs give out. Raph catches him before he can cause more damage. A faint glow on Mikey's arms caught Donnie's eye before his little brother fainted in Raph's arms. ************************************** He huffed loudly in annoyance at his brothers for forcing him to bed rest. Just moments before, he was told "it was for his own good. Only wishing that whatever ails him will be resolved with a bit more rest. Still unsure of the origin of these odd symptoms, they want to be extra careful." "They see you as an annoying pest; no wonder they grounded you. You're being overly dramatic! Things just started to become normal for your family, and you had to ruin it. So selfish!" That hate-filled voice was back, with no sign of an appearance by Dr. Feelings in sight. Mikey curled up in a tight ball. Rocking back and forth. Muffling his cries with his balled-up blanket and Drenching his pillow with tears Soon he would fall into an unruly slumber. Nightmares plagued him about the invasion and filled his heart with self-doubt. In the middle of his nightmare of him failing to save his brother, the portal closed before Leo could reach it, and he flung himself out of his hammock. Landing on the ground below with a loud thud. He woke silently, thanking Pizza supreme that no one heard him. Catching his breath, he scoots his back against the wall. Lifting his hands to wipe his tear-drenched face, his arms burst in agonizing pain. He bites down hard on his lip to keep a loud sob from escaping. After a few minutes, the pain subsides. A faint glow illuminated the scars on his arm. On closer inspection, he notices small sparks gathering near his fingertips. They don't last long, as they disappear before his eyes. As they fade away, a strong feeling of being electrocuted surges through his whole body. A strange sensation feeling fills his head. His balance is rocked by a sudden wave of dizziness. He tries to pull himself up off the floor, but it's no use. He tugs hard on the closest thing to him unplugging the cord from his string lights on the wall. They came colliding down on top of his body. He struggles to leave their hold, but before he has time to act or call out for help, his body convulses violently. Without the help of his brothers, he is left to suffer alone in the darkness. Hours later, Raph is unable to sleep. Deciding he'd stretch his legs and take a walk around the lair wouldn't hurt. Raph's mind would be more at ease. He might have gotten a little bit distracted in the kitchen with a late-night snack. Hey! In his defense, it's not good to do a patrol on an empty stomach! Good, no spooky scaries in the kitchen; now to check on Pops and my brothers. Pops ended up falling asleep in front of his projector while watching a rerun of one of his old Lou Jitsu movies. Doesn't dare shut it off and instead settles for turning down the volume. He gathers the closest blanket and covers his dad up. Next up was to check up on Donnie. Donnie's lab door was open just a crack. Raph peeks in to see that Donnie has fallen asleep due to overworking him again. Desk littered with medical books and used coffee mugs. An old Yōkai book on mystic powers caught his eye. He must have obtained it from Draxum. Not thinking much more of it, he notices that Don is still wearing his battle shell. He shakes his head in frustration and unlocks it with a hiss. He sets the battle shell beside the desk, accidentally knocking it over in the process. Despite the noise of it colliding with the ground, Donnie doesn't stir. Raph chuckles and thinks to himself, "Oh yeah, he's out cold." Lifting his brother with ease, he carries Don to his room, only to be stopped by the soft-shelled turtle's twin. Leo's brow furrowed in worry. Raph waved him off, explaining that Donnie fell asleep working and that he was going to get a good night's sleep in his own bed tonight. Leo's shoulders relax in relief. Leo promises he'll do the same after a glass of water. Raph seems to believe Leo and makes his way to Donnie's. He gently sets his brother down on the bed and tucks him into his favorite purple weighted blanket. He removes Don's goggles and mask, setting them on the end table next to his bed. Not once does he stir. An eerie feeling fills Raph. He pushes these feelings down and reminds himself that his brother is fine; he just needs well-rested sleep. With one last glance, he shuts off the light and takes his leave. Okay, Pop's sleeping; Donnie's tucked in bed. He glances at Leo's room, and as he passes it, the light is off, confirming he kept his promise. 3 down, 1 to go. With a satisfied grunt, he makes his way to Mikey's. Something about the trip to his baby brother's room felt wrong. That eerie feeling was back. He felt so anxious and a bit sick to his stomach. What if Mikey's mad at Raph for "grounding" him until he recovers? He knows it was for the best, though the recent events of the past few weeks have shaken them all up a bit. As he reaches for Mikey's door, Big Brother's senses are going crazy. His heart was nearly beating out of his chest. He braces himself and pushes the door open. Revealing a dark bedroom, which is odd to him because since Mikey was a toddler, he's always been a bit scared of the dark. He bends down to plug in the lights. That's weird the light is glowing from below, not above him. He reaches down to pick up the lights off the floor, and that's when he notices a figure lying on the floor. MIKEY! Raph fell to his knees tugging on the lights to free his brother. Finally, Mikey is no longer in a tangled mess. Raph takes in the sight in front of him. His baby brother's body lays limp on the floor in a puddle of vomit. He was breathing heavily, and his face was soaked with sweat. He gently shakes him but nothing seems to faze him. The feeling of dread makes his stomach churn. Forcing out a breath he yells for Leo. "Leo h-elp, Leo help it's Mikey somethings wrong!" He cries out hysterically. "Come on Big man wake up for Raphie" He chokes out a cry "Please wake up" Raph begs and pleads Leo dashes his way into the room with a first aid kit in hand. The sleep from his eyes is now nonexistent. "Oh shit, shit, shit shit! No time to panic you've gotta stay in Doctor mode of Mikey's sake!"Leo reminds himself He leans down to listen to his plastron heart rate and his breathing sounded normal. He checked to make sure his airways were clear. With a feather-light touch, he inspects Mikey's body. Only appears to have light bruising on his skin, he guesses it's caused by the fall from the hammock. It looks safe enough to move him. He puts Mikey on his side and rubs his shell in comforting circles. "Hermano can you hear us? It will be okay please just open your eyes," Leo said calmly "Please Mikester show us those beautiful baby blues of yours buddy." Leo continued. Raph puts his big palm on Mikey's head petting it gently. Mikey's breath quickened as began to wake. Blurry shades of blue and red were the first things he sees. The figures holding concerned frowns on their faces. They were trying to talk to him but words came out muddled and distorted. He struggled to concentrate, everything he felt was thrown into chaos. Everything was too loud or too bright. There was crying which turned into full-on walling. Why, who was crying? Too loud, too loud, too loud, make it stop, Make it stop, MAKE IT STOP! he begged. Each breath he took felt as if he was drowning. Gasping as if each breath was his last. The voices were back telling me something important. "Focus you must focus you can do it," Mikey tells himself Raph takes Mikey into his lap and places him against his plastron. "Mikey, Focus on my breathing, That's right just like that. Come on you can do it!" Raph finally gets through to his little brother and his breathing evens out. Mikey's body relaxes in Raphs embrace. Tears running down his face. With a shakey breath opens his mouth to speak. "W re am I, what hap in?" Mikey slurs Raph and Leo both meet each other's eyes not sure how to answer. Their little brothers slurring words among other symptoms are concerning. Leo was the first to speak. "Well, brother we are not quite sure. What can you remember? " "We need any detail you can give us. No symptom or event is too small." Leo assured him "Did something happen besides your fall? Did anything feel off?." Raph added *********************************** Donnie woke up in his bed with no memory of how got there. Nor did he care. After a short cat nap, he feels well-rested and ready to tackle the problem he's been dwelling on for some time. Mikey. Thinking back on it his little brother has always had a weaker immune system than the rest of his brothers. It always seemed to take a lot longer for him to recover from illnesses and injuries. Deep down Donnie hopes that whatever disorder is causing his brother so much distress can be fixed simply with rest. His brother has always been the most caring and in touch with his feelings. He's always taking care of others before himself and tends to overwork himself while doing so. Donnie's mind fills with dread the more he thinks about the subject. He tells himself that a quick trip to Mikey's room will ease his mind. But first, he has to pee like right now "Oh my god why did I have to drink that much coffee? My bladder is about to burst." Donnie jumps up from the bed and makes a mad dash towards the bathroom. As Donnie was making his way to the bathroom, he noticed a soft glow emanating from Mikey's room. He couldn't resist wanting to investigate, and as he got closer, he heard hushed whispers filling the air. He was so engrossed that his full bladder was long forgotten. He crept into the dark room. Donnie takes in the sight before him. His brothers were sitting cross-legged on the floor, and Raph was holding Mikey up to his chest. It looked like they were sharing an emotional moment, and he felt like he had intruded on their privacy. But then He noticed the first aid kit on the floor, and everything fell into place. Leo spots Donnie standing in the doorway. Donnie looks to like he's losing an internal battle with himself. But before panic has time to sink in Leo calls over his Twin. Cautiously he joined them on the floor He noticed that Mikey's eyes were drooping, indicating that he was struggling to stay awake. Donnie spoke up. "Angelo, Eyes on us, it's imperative that you stay awake!" It was taking all Mikey had in him to concentrate on his brothers." 'm tired, o sor" Mikey slurred tiredly. His words were coming out garbled and so slow. Alarms were going off. His brothers were worried and uncertain about what had caused his sudden decline. Leo tried to figure out the reason for Mikey's fall from his hammock, but it remained unknown. Unable to fight it any longer Mikey's eyelids fell closed. After a few hours past Mikey had woken up in Med Bay to a bright light, causing his head to ache. At first, he was a bit confused but soon after his memory was piecing itself back together like a puzzle. Donnie was the first one to notice his distress and told S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. to dim the light. With the lights at an acceptable level, Mikey's body relaxed. Donnie felt relieved that he was able to ease some of his little brother's discomfort. Donnie walked over and put his hand on Mikey's head. Rubbing it in a comforting motion. Mikey leaned into the touch. "Angelo, Can you tell me how you are feeling?" Donnie questioned him quietly "Um, well my head hurts a bit and my body is kinda sore" Mikey replied Donnie nods, as he listened He is jotting down his answers on a white dry-erase board. "Right now are you having trouble seeing or having a hard time concentrating?" Donnie asks "Or any dizziness?" Mikey ponders a minute to take stock of his body's condition. None of those symptoms are what he's feeling at the moment. He shakes his head no. Before Donnie could ask another question Leo and Raph enter the Med bay. "MIKEY!" They both shouted at once. Causing Mikey to cover his ears to block out the erupting sound. Grimacing as it makes his head pound. "Sorry Hermano we just got a little bit excited seeing that you were awake," Leo whispered "Yeah, Sorry Big man we will try to keep the volume done a bit" Raph reassured. "Raph's Just so happy seeing you up. I was so scared when I found you lying on your bedroom floor." He says as he wraps his arms around Mikey for a hug. "Ah man look what you did, you went and made your brothers worry again. Why do I have to be such a burden? Why can't everything go back to normal." Mikey internally scolds himself. " Mikey, everyone's wounds take time to heal some more than others." Dr. Feeling consoles. Mikey shakes in head rid the negative thoughts from his mind. He clutching to his the blankets tightly. Shoulders trembling he began to sob. Raph takes notice of this holds him tighter and rocks him back and forth. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Mikey covers his mouth with a shaky hand. Trying to hold back another sob. Donnie hushes Mikey as he wipes the tears from his face. 'Hey, hey, no need to apologize little brother." "He's right none of that" Raph agreed "I don't know what's happening to me," Mikey said anxiously Leo put a hand on Mikey's shoulder, reassuring him. "Then let us help you understand. What can you remember? When did your symptoms start?" Mikey struggled to recall the events leading up to his confusion, but eventually, it came to him. "I remember feeling a strange sensation in my head during the fight and again in the kitchen. It was like a wave of dizziness, I felt disconnected and then everything went hazy from there." Donnie recalls noticing Mikey acting strangely. His little brother standing still during mid-fight, staring at nothing. Though doesn't last long Mikey was stuck in a state of confusion. Then it happened again in the kitchen with the added symptoms of a muscle spasm and some rapid. That's when it dawns on him "Stupid, how could I forget such an important detail? Mikey's Ninpo activated causing his hands to glow!" Donnie mentally scolds himself. Donnie opens to speak but is cut off by Mikey. Mikey continues shyly "I-I had a nightmare last night ab-bout the invasion. I couldn't save Leo" Mikey sobs out "It frighted me so much that I woke up on the floor, I tried to calm myself down, but before I could pain shot through my arms, It took everything in me to keep myself from crying out in pain. Then pain subsides. The scars on my arms started to glow. Sparks like lightning gathered near my fingertips. They didn't last long, but as soon as they faded away. I remember feeling that same strange sensation in my head, I felt so dizzy, couldn't stand, and then everything went black." Seeing how stressed and tired Mikey looked Raph thought it would be a good time for him to take a break. "You did good buddy, how about you take a nap, and let your big bothers figure things out from here." That earned Raph a toothy grin from Mikey as he settled him back down in bed. Leo looks up at the notes Donnie had written. The symptoms were laid out in the open for them all to see. Raph walks over to add emotional distress and panic attacks to the list. After hours of skimming through every medical book and scrolling through every medical research site known to man. Leo spoke up with confidence understanding the situation. "It sounds like Mikey might have had a seizure. "Okay, so that's not good any idea what causes it? Raph asked "Well from my observations dearest Brother, I believe his Ninpo is activating on its own. In other words, they are glitching out, and finding a way to control them might not be an easy task." Donnie answered with uncertainty. "Well, don't you have that old Yōkai book on mystic powers?" Raph recalled "Oh well, that, Deep Sigh. The book is full of Yōkai rituals. I'm a man of Science. Most of the rituals are gibberish to me. I'm still learning the basics, and as much as I like using you guys as guinea pigs for my beta testing."Donnie explained "And I'm not risking Mikey's life if I fail." He said in a whisper of doubt. "Whoa, Donnie we wouldn't ask you to do anything that would risk his life. Maybe Pops or Draxum... That's It, Draxum. Why didn't we call him sooner? He's gotta know what's goin' on with Mikey!." Raph exclaimed "Oh no not Draxum, No No NO! Why can't anyone seem to remember... " Raph and Donnie cut Leo off "We know, he threw you off a building. Can we move on from this?" Leo sighs "Fine, But if you guys end up a pancake on a busy sidewalk don't go crying to me!" Donnie shook his head at his Twin's antics before giving Draxum a call. During their conversation, Donnie explains that Mikey had been experiencing epilepsy episodes. "WHY AM I NOW JUST HEARING ABOUT THIS." Donnie pulls his T-phone from his head. "Oh fuck, We're in trouble now!" Leo shouts "Language Leo! And Oh we are" Raph agreed Draxum immediately expressed concern and wants to ensure he receives proper care and attention. And with the promise of coming over soon, he hung up. *************************** Mikey was stirred awake by shouting coming from outside of the Med Bay. The automatic door hiss open "And another thing if you don't tell me if something like this happens again, then don't talk to me or my son ever again!" The slams shut in his brother's face. Mikey can't help but laugh. He grinned cheek to cheek. Draxum is still fuming from the argument but his expression softens in worry. "Michelangelo" Seeing his "son" lying in a hospital bed made him look so fragile. As if he could turn to dust with a mere touch. "Barry! I miss you so much!" Mikey says tiredly but with a smile on his face. He opens his arms inviting Draxum to hug him. Draxum accepted the hug but with caution. "My dear boy, you do not look well." Mikey shook his head in response. Tear cascade down his face. Drax with a gentle hand wipes the tears from Mikey's face. "Shh, It's alright dear ol' Dad is here to help." Mikey relaxes and then simply nods. ***************************** Everyone soon joins Draxum and Mikey in the Med Bay. Draxum suggests an ancient healing ritual that could activate Mikey's dormant mystic powers. Draxum explained that Mikey had too much mystic energy trapped within him, like a dam blocking a river stream. Without a proper flow of mystic energy, his health would deteriorate at an alarming rate. Draxum began explaining the ritual giving each bothers their task. Their jobs sounded simple enough. All they needed to do was meditate and guide Mikey's energy to Draxum. The Draxum would take it from there. By no means could it be that easy. They all fell into meditation when a cold chill filled the room, and the sound of a child crying echoed in their minds. They were all overwhelmed by emotions and sorrow causing the ritual to waver. His mystic energy grew intensely like a raging wildfire burning bright and strong, but also unpredictable and potentially dangerous if not properly controlled. Fiery chains surrounded Mikey's body in a frenzy. His body levitated off the bed convulsing violently. Draxum took over guiding the brothers, just as firefighters battle to control a wildfire and they prevented it from spreading out of control. With this help they were able to channel and direct that power, allowing it to burn bright without causing harm. Just like a wildfire can be harnessed for good. The chains of fire gracefully float around Mikey's form. The mesmerizing spectacle left them all breathless. The chains seemed to swirl and dance around him. As if they were happy and full of joy. His eyes began to glow with an otherworldly aura Draxum smiled at Mikey, knowing that they had unlocked something extraordinary within Him. Over time, Mikey's seizures lessened, and with the help of Draxum Mikey will learn how to become more in tune with his newly unlocked mystic powers. Through dedication and hard work, Mikey believes that he can become a master of his mystic powers. And live up to the potential just as future Casey said he would be.
12 months ago