Readerallthings

MM Raph stared at his orange brother and rat father in the large tent for the hosts at the north side of the expo hall. They were currently seated in the lotus position as they projected their consciousness into the mental space.

The other Splinters were there, as well as all the host turtles. Bay Leo told them to keep what his father saw a secret from the other versions first, though MM Raph was still pondering about the request Bay Leo had made for the Rise turtles…

  “Have they established the connection yet? ” One of the Splinters stepped forward. He was holding a cane in one hand as he glanced at the bespectacled MM Splinter seated serenely on the floor. “How did your father, who was an ordinary rat, create a mental space with access to the spirits of the Hamato clan? ” 2003 Splinter asked out of genuine curiosity. MM Leo shook his head.

  “Our dad...SOMEHOW created that space. We have ZERO ninja heritage connection. We only learned about the Hamato clan from Rise’s booth but we always use that mental space to train. I think we’re the exception to a ninja clan heritage out of everyone here.” MM Leo nodded as he drew out the descriptions  from what Bay Splinter saw.

On the sketchbook, there were dozens of green hooded figures, a bald older man and a woman in a pony tail, with the same green aura. There were also the spirits of the Splinters that had passed on plus some humans that were still yet to be determined for which version they belonged to. “I also saw a full set of one Splinter and four turtles there.” MM Leo’s pencil stopped dead in its tracks.

  The entire Rise gang paused their activities and turned to look at Bay Splinter in dread. MM Raph himself widened his eyes in shock. This…sounded too familiar. “Don’t tell me. An ENTIRE version of us is dead?! Guys! I think you need to see this!” MM Raph pulled out a thick stack of papers from MM Mikey's bag. They were titled “The Last Ronin”.

Bay Splinter went pale. “Why do you turtles have the infamous title of the Mikey that survived last among that spiritual family?” The atmosphere in the tent was so thick you could cut it with a knife. There exists an entire dimension where Leo, Mikey, Raph, Donnie and Splinter were six feet under. And somehow the MM turtles' story was one for one on the details. 

  Bay Splinter was looking in disbelief at MM Mikey, who was still seated in lotus position. “You’re telling me your brother wrote a story that accurately matches up with what happened to the Last Ronin. And he told this story for fun?” MM Donnie put a hand on Bay Splinter's shoulder and nodded. The MM turtles were clearly reeling from this horrible coincidence. The Rise gang on the other hand was looking at the sketches that MM Leo had put out.

  “Woah! FINALLY! A Leo that can draw!”

  “Awww, dad seems so happy with the Hamato clan and his mom.”

  “It’s good to see Gram Gram and Great grandfather with all our ancestors again.”

  MM Leo glanced behind at the Rise turtles that were peeking over his shoulder. His eyes were still conveying the surprise he felt after the discovery, but they relaxed after hearing the compliments. “I hate to say this, but I got a great idea, for after we settle this spiritual affair. What do you guys think of starting another art corner? To act specifically as a tribute for those that have passed on.”

The Splinters seemed to lighten up a bit too, nodding their heads in agreement with this suggestion. Before any more sketches of the spirits could be made, Bay Leo ran in. ”Hosts! There’s a situation happening!”

  The Splinters, Rise gang and the MM turtles that weren’t mediating ran behind Bay Leo. They got to the centre of the Expo Hall, only to find 2012 Leo floating in the centre of the circle of shocked turtles that had gathered to see the commotion. His irises were fully white with ghostly black wisps coming off him. The most disturbing part was the fact that you could see the projection of a mutated super Shredder behind him, fighting with what appeared to be 2012 Splinter’s ghost.

“ONCE I TAKE YOUR SON, I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT INTERFERING YOSHI! I’M DRAGGING AT LEAST ONE OF YOUR SONS DOWN TO HELL BY TONIGHT!” 12 Leo’s body jerked left and right in the air as he was trying to fight for control over his body, while the paranormal activity behind him was getting greater. The black wisps also grew thicker.

Suddenly, he tried to lunge for his OWN BROTHERS in the crowd, but he was stopped by an invisible force. 2012 Mikey’s eyes widened in shock as he saw his brother's katana blade paused an inch away from his blue irises.

  “Eveeyone! Get away from Leo! He’s not safe to be around right now!” From somewhere in the crowd, a girl with long orange hair and pale skin was holding her hands out, palms facing Leo and her eyes were flickering between white and her normal eyes.

12 April was trying her hardest to hold 2012 Leo back, to the point her nose started bleeding, but the shadows cast by 2012 Leo suddenly grew longer, and longer, AND LARGER, until a huge shadowy figure materialised in front of 12 April. It looked like the mutated form of 12’s Super Shredder and it drew its fist back to hit 12 April.

  “GET DOWN!” A giant red bat swung at the shadowy figure and dissipated it into many shadowy wisps. Manhattan Raph was holding his bat at the ready to defend 12 April, while Manhattan Donnie threw down a shield in the centre of the crowd circle, sealing 2012 Leo off from the rest of the turtles.

“Hurry! Get to the left side of the expo hall! Our barrier won’t hold him for long!” Panic and chaos ensued as the turtle stampede to the other side of the expo hall began, as the entire crowd of turtles ran to safety. Away from the imminent doom. 

  “Leo! Leo! Wake up! DON'T LET HIM IN! ” 12 Raph banged his fists on the barrier to try to shout through to 12 Leo, but the turtle was still caught in a storm of shadows around him as the battle between their father and shredder’s ghosts raged on. The barrier was beginning to crack.

The hosts were at a loss of what to do. “We can’t use mystics here and Manhattan’s powers won't stop the possession! What do we do guys?” Rise Mikey cupped his head in his hands. 

  “We need a song!” The hosts and the Splinters turned to look behind them. MM Mikey and MM Splinter were sprinting towards the group, as MM Mikey used a Kusarigama to wrap around and pull ALL THREE of the frantic 12 turtles towards them. “WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING! WE NEED TO GET TO LEO! Also, how are you so strong MM Mikey?”

MM Mikey set down the 12 turtles and pulled out his playlist on his phone and told the Rise turtles to huddle in too. “Listen you guys. I know it seems impossible to get Shredder out of 12 Leo, but there is one way to channel Rise’s Ninpo and help 12 Splinter win.” He scrolled through the list of songs as he told the Rise and 12 turtles about the plan. “And how would you know that?” 12 Raph crossed his arms as the turtles all looked at their host Mikey. He smiled sadly and said, “Rise Splinter told us.”

The rise turtles looked up with longing eyes towards MM Mikey. “Dad…spoke to you?” He nodded in response. “If you guys follow this plan, he WILL appear again. Trust me, please.”

  He explained the plan to them and continued scrolling through the songs. Before they settled on one. “Are you guys one hundred percent sure that THIS ONE SONG is how you truly feel about your dad?” MM Mikey asked the two versions again.

All of them nodded firmly, determined to do whatever it takes to get back a friend and a brother. “Then let’s go! Manhattan gang, we need y'all to hold off the shadows long enough for 12 April to telekinetically pull 12 Leo to the stage!”

…

  The journey to the stage was choppy, as 12 April got onto one of the trolleys used to deliver pizza boxes in bulk and was being pushed by Bay Leo. She held her hands out towards 12 Leo, ensuring that he was securely in her invisible grasp and wouldn't fly away again. 12 Leo was violently thrashing now, as the shadow wisps around 12 Leo kept detaching and materialising into foot soldiers, which were being slashed and destroyed by the Manhattan turtles with their ninjitsu abilities. The whole scene was reminiscent of an ARMY FROM HELL.

“I bet that Shredder from hell broke into that mental space, am I right fellow Mike!” Manhattan Mikey called out to MM Mikey who was currently dashing to the stage with the other hosts and Splinters. “Spot on! He broke in halfway through 12 Leo’s reunion with his father and let their Shredder and his dead foot soldiers in! They cut off the rest of the Hamato clan spirits and us from reaching 12 Leo again somehow!”

  At last, they reached the stage and 12 April planted 12 Leo onto the stage with a great grunt of effort. The MM turtles and their Splinter dashed behind the stage curtains and connected the song track to the speakers, as Rise Donnie also placed a portal behind him and pulled a new person through.

The goat man looked around before his eyes came to rest on 12 Leo held down on his knees in the centre of the stage. “Another mystic incident that you want me to fix, eh?”

  “Nah, Draxum. This is worse. It’s a possession incident and we can't let Shredder take over our friend. We need you to channel the mystic energy produced when we sing here to force the spirit out. Plus…could you help them stay?”

  “Firstly, mysticism isn't created by song. Secondly, who’s ‘ them ‘?”

    “Our dads. And maybe the other versions’ friends that have died. We know it sounds ridiculous, but please. We’re begging you Barry. Please let us see him again. ” Draxum searched the pleading faces of the Rise turtles, before he closed his eyes and turned around, with his hands extended out. “Then what are we waiting for? Let the music play.” 

Rise Leo - A

Rise Raph - B

Rise Mikey - C

Rise Donnie - D

A: Hear the clock ticking on the wall, losing sleep, losing track for the tears I cry

B: Every drop is a waterfall, every breath is a break in the riptide

C: Oh, how long has it been? I don’t know but it feels like an eternity since I had you here with me. Since we had to learn to be, something on our own

D: To be with you in paradise, what we wouldn't sacrifice, why did you go chase the light, somewhere we can’t go

Together:

As we walk this world alone

  The Rise turtles sang with all their hearts, as the MM gang saw from behind the curtains that they were all crying. Their tears started glowing as their respective mask colours, as the centre of their plastrons had the HAMATO SYMBOL appear. Draxum moved his hands in a swirling motion to collect the mystic that was emanating from the Rise turtles and directed it towards 12 Leo in the centre of the stage.

The mystic energy materialised dozens of green cloaked figures, recognised by MM Mikey as the Rise Hamato clan ancestors. The ancestors vocalised with the Rise turtles as they pushed out Super Shredder's spirit partially with their mystic power, but he was still putting up a fight. “YOU WON’T EVER BE RID OF MEEEEEE!”

  “Oh, we will, trash. Draxum, right? Take our energy too!”

12 Raph: It’s an endless night, it's a starless sky, it’s the hell that we call home

12 Mikey: It’s a long goodbye on the other side, of the only life we know. And it feels like an eternity

12 Donnie: Since I had you here with me, since we had to learn to be, something you don’t know. To be with you in paradise

ALL:

What we wouldn't sacrifice. Why did you go chase the light, somewhere we can't go, as we face this world ALONE!

  With the 12 turtles’ spiritual power, their father’s spirit was finally able to get the upper hand, but Shredder had one final trick and tried to stab 12 Splinter again with his ghostly, long claws. 12 Raph froze, recalling the horrible sight of Shredder stabbing his own father in the back that fateful day. He wanted to run away. So he never had to see his father die again.

Until a tiny hand caught the claw. Even 12 Splinter’s spirit was confused. A short rat man, in silver and black robes with the Hamato symbol was blocking Shredder’s strike, glaring straight into Super Shredder's eyes. He turned to nod at his sons and his counterpart with a smile. “LET’S DESTROY HIM NOW, MY FRIEND! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT…” 12 Splinter returned the smile and got his stance ready once more. “......SOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!”

  The two Splinters drove their fists into Super Shredder’s ghost and sent it exploding into a green shockwave. The shockwave was so powerful, the wind generated swept past all the booths and knocked a few of them over. When the shockwave was over, the hosts and the 12 turtles were left standing on stage with all the hooded figures of the Rise Hamato clan. As well as two more rats.

“DAD!” Both the 12 and Rise gang ran up to hug their fathers, but their fingers grasped air. Both the rat fathers chuckled as they emphasized to their sons that they were still ghosts, although they could stay in the expo hall and enjoy the Concerto now. “They probably don't even care about that, right?” Bay Leo wiped a tear from his eye as he cocked his head in the direction of the turtles sobbing on stage with overwhelming joy.

Draxum looked at the tall, blue bandanna turtle before turning to look at 12 Leo, who had just woken up and was also crying tears of happiness and embracing 12 Splinter's ghost. “No. No they don't. I wouldn't have even come here if it wasn't for what you asked, other Leo.” Bay Leo simply shrugged and walked over to Rise Leo to tell them about getting the crowd to resume activities. “It’s what I owe him for reminding us. Anata wa, hitori janai. Now, they won’t feel alone either.”

The most interesting mystery so far? That top seat in the expo hall. That Black and White tent stacked up so high on stilts, it might as well have been a tower in his gloomy, Gotham city. The top seat and the tent were somehow the same thing, because he had asked one of the host Leos.

“OH MY GOD! BATMAN SIR! UM. I’M SO NERVOUS I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD COME OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH!” MM Leo was shaking in excitement and wringing his hands uncontrollably, when his idol finally approached him on his own. MM Leo pulled out a notebook from his pocket and thrust it into Batman’s hands eagerly, asking for his signature.

“Are you sure you’re the same turtle that led that entire crowd rave yesterday? Or the same turtle that was smashing toys as crazy as Harley Quinn does with her bat? ” Batman chuckled and shook his head in amusement at the difference in demeanor of MM Leo depending on the context. This Leo felt like he lived as an actual teenager instead of just being a trained warrior his whole life.

MM Leo shrugged sheepishly and put one hand behind his head, blushing in embarrassment. “That…was for the performances. I don't actually think I'm all that, you know? Anyways, here’s the info on the Mirage turtles, since they are the prime TMNT confirmed by Rise Donnie. Plus, they requested ABSOLUTE privacy in their tent.” MM Leo passed him a thick grey covered book labelled “Mirage” in white embossed letters, before waving enthusiastically to Batman and running off to the dance floor.

Batman had tried to predict what the Mirage Turtles would be like from the book alone, yet he could not shake the feeling that they weren’t like the other turtles here. To put it simply, Batman was picking up the same aura JOKER or THE WORST OF GOTHAM’S VILLAINS would emanate from that tent. He needed to investigate this.

Silently disassociating himself from the crowd of turtles around him, Batman did what he always did best. Lurk in the shadows. He used one of his silent grappling hooks to swing from ceiling light to ceiling light before finally landing on the roof of the Black and White tent. He entered the tent silently, only to find complete darkness within. He spun around and saw-

“...a blade pointed in his face. What are you doing here Batman?” Batman was face to face with the tip of a blade, as a grey turtle with white eyes and black mask switched on the light in the tent. The surroundings under the light were somehow devoid of any colors and seemed to be only different shades of grey. He was face to face with four identical turtles, completely impossible to tell apart because of their grey masks.

“If you’re trying to convince us to go down, no thanks. We have enough fun just staying up here and enjoying the chaos down below.” Mirage Raph stated as he pulled out a short grey stool for Batman to sit. The stool almost collapsed under his weight but Batman paid no heed. So they weren’t anything like villains. Yet. He needed to figure out why the Mirage turtles were isolating themselves.

“Don’t you and your brothers want to go down and talk to the rest of the turtles? They would certainly respect you, as the very first ninja turtles. ” One of the grey turtles picked up a bo staff and placed it on his back. Batman affirmed that the turtle was Mirage Donnie in his head.

“We appreciate the compliment, Batman. Though, I don’t think we would be welcome down there. We’re…too serious for those childish antics.” Though Mirage Donnie said this, Batman saw that his hands swept over the colorful books compiled by the other versions to summarise their booth for the Mirage gang.

Batman heard a rustling sound and turned to look at one of the grey turtles frantically sweeping dozens of colorful letters under the grey mat, addressed with admiration and support by the other versions.

That grey turtle froze when he saw Batman look at him, and for the first time, he wasn’t furrowing his brows. He looked exactly like the awkward teenagers that were running the show, or the dorky Leo that got Batman’s  signature.

“My guess might be a wrongful assumption, but do you turtles think that you would be left alone because you don’t seem friendly? That the other versions would shun you for appearing dark or brooding?” Batman asked the Mirage turtles as they seemed to lower their heads in silent contemplation.

Before they could respond, Batman pulled out an airhorn and pressed it. The “theme” of the teenage mutant ninja turtles as described by the 87 turtles blared loudly from the gift 87 Mikey had given Batman and sent the Mirage turtles jumping back. “You JACKASS! WHAT WAS THAT FOR!” 

Batman shrugged and seemed to smirk a little. “I can be a little childish too. If turtles as goofy as 87 Mikey are willing to talk to me,  a DARK and BROODING vigilante, then there’s no reason for you guys to exclude yourselves from the fun. Any songs you guys wish to perform? I’m sure the MM turtles would agree to anything their guests ask.”

After recovering from the initial shock of the airhorn, the Mirage turtles seemed to have a realization dawn upon them as all four looked at each other. Mirage Leo, as Batman was assuming from the two swords he was holding, ran to the closet in the left corner of the tent and pulled out four red bandannas. Guess it’s Prime time.

…

“I’m SOOOO bored. Leooooooo, can’t we perform something?” Batman Mikey asked Batman Leo as he yawned and slumped his shoulders. They were currently trying to find Batman, but it was as if the masked vigilante had just vanished into thin air. “He’ll come back eventually Mikey. Right now we should just chill-” BONK!

Batman Leo felt something smack into his shell and sent him stumbling a few feet forward. He turned around to see who the pusher was, only to see his two Purple and Red brothers make funny faces at him as they ran away with LIGHT SABERS in their hands. Batgirl and Robin turned their heads back to look at Batman Mikey and Leo, with “are you guys for real” expressions visible on their faces.

“HOW DARE THEY! WE MUST AVENGE JAMINERE AND CONQUER THE GALACTIC EMPIRE!” Batman Mikey yelled back dramatically in the direction Donnie and Raph had just run off in, and normally Leo would have been exhausted with Mikey not helping. Not this time, though. He put a hand on Mikey’s shoulder and joined in on the idea. “We settle this on stage. Get the hosts!”

…

The stage was completely darkened with no one performing on it for the time being. The stage suddenly lit up and revealed Bay Mikey with his large frame behind a dee jay set up, scratching the discs as he got ready for the next incoming performance.

“MC MIKEY IN THE BUILDING!!!!!!!” He roared and the surrounding turtles near the expo stage cheered as he turned on the track. It started with a few electronic boops, before the piano launched the track into a full on electronic BOP. Two of the Batman turtles appeared on stage. 

Kagamine Rin - Batman Leo

Kusanagi Nene - Batman Mikey

Tenma Tsukasa - Batman Donnie

Kagamine Len - Batman Raph

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there was a close pair of high nobility siblings

“The rest we’ll leave omitted”

Batman Leo and Batman Mikey were wearing what looked like star wars cloaks and carrying light sabers of their own in their mask colors, as they sang elegantly and harmonised on the second line. Then their other two brothers showed up.

“DO IT PROPERLY”

Batman Raph and Batman Donnie started singing back and forth with their Leo and Mikey, all in JAPANESE as the subtitles flashed on the screens above them. They seemed to be arguing about royalty, which was fitting for the Star Wars storyline they were trying to act out. This scene made the turtles in the crowd chortle in laughter because who would have thought the turtles that followed the no-nonsense Batman himself, would choose a song called CHILDISH WAR on their first performance?

The song kept getting more intense, with the brothers running on stage and dramatically posing as they dodged swings and exchanged clashes with the light sabers.

Alfred, Batgirl and Robin even appeared on stage during some of the lyrics just to act as the assistants for the ongoing “war”. Alfred passed them pizza snacks between blows, Batgirl gave them towels to wipe the sweat off while Robin was dousing ICE WATER on them as if this was a boxing match.

This performance made the least sense out of everything the crowd had seen so far, but they were LIVING for it. MC Mikey was going crazy with the electro beats for the solo section of the song, before Batman Donnie and Batman Leo pointed their light sabers at each other and started firing fake air projectiles in dramatic motions.

But you, only you

Hiya! Yah! Cha! Yah! Uh! Uh! Yah! Ha!

are the suitable rival for me

Hiya! Yah! Cha! Yah! Uh! Uh! Yah! Ha!

Because falling and being forced to yield

Uh! Ha! Hiya! Yah! Yah! Hiya! Ha!

would drive me mad, tonight with you, HEY HEY HEY HEY

   The batman turtles started bickering on stage in Japanese, before the music came back on and they faced each other once again in the last chorus, attempting to even PUSH EACH OTHER OFF the stage. But it ended it a tie, as they exclaimed, making the crowd burst out laughing once more.

 The stage went dark as the song ended, but that wasn’t the last performance. Batman suddenly emerged from the shadows with a swish of his cape. Before he pulled off his mask. Revealing his real face for the first time and addressing the crowd as Bruce Wayne.

“Good evening. Turtles, you might think I'm crazy for showing you my true identity, but here? I'm not Batman anymore. Likewise, I welcome a group of turtles on stage to prove that they are more than just COLD BLOODED KILLERS! MIRAGE GANG, TAKE IT AWAY!” 

 And Batman was gone into the shadows again with another swish of his cape. The stage lit up again, brighter and shinier this time. The MM turtles were all in position but they had somehow SWAPPED the instruments for the first time, with MM Leo on the electric guitar, MM Raph on the drums, MM Donnie on the bass and MM Mikey on the keyboard. The crowd whooped at the sight of the hosts in their FULL ninja gear and ready to start the show.

What they didn't expect was for four grey turtles to pop out in red bandannas, dressed in green christmas elf clothes, hats and matching elf ears. “Yo! Those Prime turtles are finally getting it on! Raph! Rise Leo! You owe me and Rise Donnie five bucks!” 2012 Mikey called out to his own Raph as he passed a popcorn bucket to Rise Donnie, who took some popcorn kernels with his robotic hands and smirked at a frowning Rise Leo.

The MM turtles began playing a tune as the Mirage turtles were speaking about the…..ballgame in the refrigerator? Then it hit them. Quite literally.

BUTTER’S GETTING HARD!!!!!

WHAT A SPLENDID PIE 

PIZZA PIZZA PIE

EVERY MINUTE EVERY SECOND

BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY!

   The shockwave and sheer intensity of the Mirage gang’s vocals were enough to knock back some of the turtles in the front row, before the entire crowd was soon throwing up heavy metal/rock signs and head banging to the beat.

Mirage Leo:

Pepperoni and Green Peppers Mushrooms olive chives!

Mirage Mikey: 

Pepperoni and Green Peppers Mushrooms olive chives!

Mirage Donnie:

Need therapy, therapy, advertising causes need

Mirage Raph:

Therapy therapy, advertising causes, therapy, therapy 

All four:

ADVERTISING CAUSES!

   The song was so bombastic that the speakers themselves were barely holding it together. However, if the song has anything to do with pizza, the turtles are obviously going to lose their minds.

The 07 turtles skipped the rollerskates option and just decided to scooter their way through the crowd and shoot pizzas out of  shirt launchers to the crowd, while Manhattan Mikey pulled out pom poms and started cheerleading to the heavy metal song.

Manhattan Donnie was generating more and more pizza effects from his hands all over the place with his powers, making some turtles go feral enough to salivate and jump into the air to try and EAT the pizza effects.

   At some point in the song, the Mirage turtles stopped between heavy metal vocalising and just started singing with the most heavenly vocals. They looked like pure elves that came to comfort the children for a matter of forty seconds as the music slowed down, before picking back up at full intensity.

By the end of the song, the crowd was chanting MIRAGE MIRAGE and once again pulled all four of the grey turtles into the crowd to throw them into the air for cheers. All the while the Leos groaned at the thought of their Mikeys replicating this performance at full blast from now on.

   2012 Leo felt himself get light headed from the whiplash between the two performances and decided to take a break in his own booth first. As he closed his eyes and took a nap, he fell into a dream. Where he was surrounded by cotton candy and a colorful wonderland, while standing in the middle of a pink floored space.

“Welcome, welcome! I see that you are one of the first Leos to successfully enter.” He turned around to see MM Mikey standing there with MM Splinter. How were they talking to him?

“I mean you are one of the most spiritually-in-tune Leos, so of course you would find out about this first. Bay Splinter told us about some things he saw in his time unconscious, which includes…those that have passed on. ” 2012 Leo felt his chest start to tighten. No way. He’s gone for good, right?

“What are you guys planning this time?” 2012 Leo backed away from MM Mikey and Splinter, as he was questioning himself as to why he feared the friendly hosts, but he just didn't want them interfering with his deceased father's affairs. 

   “My son. I have missed you. There might be a way I can see the others too.” 2012 Leo heard a voice that he told himself countless times, ITS NOT REAL. “You’re not real!” He was immediately proven wrong when 2012 Splinter put a slender hand on his shoulder. “I am.”