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Donnie sat in his room alone, it had been two years since April’s death. He was still angry at Raph because, how dare he. How dare he take away Donnie’s opportunity for avenging April. Donnie heard a knock on his door and he turned, “Come in.” Mikey came into the room, “Donnie we really need to talk to you.” Donnie raised a brow, “We? What do you mean we?” Mikey sighed, and then Leo and Raph came into the room. Donnie glared at Raph, “What is he doing here?” Leo walked over to his twin and put an arm on his chair, “Don, come on it’s been two years.” Donnie pushed Leo’s arm off his chair, “So what? Are you saying we forget about April and everything that happened?!” Mikey shook his head, “No Donnie that’s not what we’re saying at all, what we’re saying is that, you need to understand why Raph took you away.” Donnie got up and began to walk towards Raph, “I understand exactly why he took me away. He didn’t care about what I wanted or felt at that moment. He thought that it was fine for him to drag me away from my dead best friend.” Raph stared at Donnie’s pained expression, his eyes filled with tears, “Leave. All of you just leave.” Mikey frowned and took Raph out of the room while Leo stayed behind, “Leo sighed, “Donnie I get why you’re upset, but please try to understand what Raph was trying to do. You don’t have to forgive him right now because forgiveness takes time and everything, but try to put yourself, into his shoes. Try to understand what he was doing.” Donnie didn’t speak and Leo began to head towards the door, “I’ll try.” Leo turned, “Huh?” Donnie sighed and turned in his seat, “I said I’ll try to understand.” Leo smiled at this, “Thanks, Don.” Donnie nodded, “Now get out.” Leo laughed, “You got it.”
-
Draxum sighed, he was annoyed. He had to go get Splinter’s stupid item that he sent their boys to get two years ago. Draxum knew his boyfriend was hiding more than he was letting on but decided not to go into details. He trusted Splinter enough and knew he would tell him when he thought it was time.
Draxum glared at the Nexus Hotel when he arrived, “It’s as hideous as the day I first saw it.” He walked up to the hotel and as he did, thought about his boys, and April and her girlfriend walking up unknowing of how awful that night was going to go. Draxum went in. He was wearing a suit to fit in with all the other yokai there. Draxum’s plan was to go into the arena and watch the fighting for a bit, then get the item and leave.
Draxum sat at the bar and ordered a drink, "Just whiskey." Draxum sighed as he waited, "I've heard she's been the reigning champion for two whole years!" Draxum turned to see a yokai couple, "Really?" The other nodded, "Yes I'm serious and I've heard she's a human too!" One of them laughed, "Now that has to be a lie. There hasn't been a human since Lou Jitsu." The other shrugged, "Well we'll see tonight my love." The two hooked arms and walked off. Draxum got up and began to walk towards the arena. He was curious if there actually was a human. He doubted it but if there was then his boyfriend would want to save them.
Draxum sat down and waited for the battle to begin. Twenty minutes later the entire room was packed with people. Draxum heard Big Mama's voice yell over the crowd, "Hello my fantabulous little fans! Are you ready to watch tonight's splendubiolos show!" The people in their seats cheered, while Draxum rolled his eyes, "She needs to learn how to use real words."
The show went on for hours and Draxum was growing tired, it seemed obvious that there was no human. Draxum started to get up only for Big Mama to speak again, "Now for the moment you've all been waiting for! Our two-year reigning champion! April O'Neil!" Draxum froze when he heard that name, it couldn’t be. She had died and the boys watched her die. Draxum looked down to see a giant horrifying combined looking mutation. It looked as if it was a part of three things, a bee, a deer, and a lion. The next cage opened and Draxum saw her. The human they all thought were dead. The boys’ best friend and sister April O’Neil. Draxum looked down at her realizing that she had been here all this time for two years. Draxum saw how different she looked now, April wasn't wearing her regular clothes, she now wore a black cloak, April’s hair was not in its usual style it was still curly, but she now had it in a ponytail, she had an eyepatch, and was wearing gloves over her hands. He wondered what Big Mama had done to her for these past two years.
Draxum saw that April had a nailed bat at her side. April ran at the mutant and began to hit it. The crowd cheered at this, while Draxum held a blank face. There was something wrong. Draxum watched as April hit it again and again, blood splashing onto her cloak, on her face, everywhere. The mutant got up and began to run for the gate only for April to knock it off its feet. She went for the head this time and swung the bat over and over again. She stopped and looked up at the crowd. The crowd stayed silent, but then began to cheer her name. April seemed to be looking through the crowd and her eyes locked with Draxums’, she stared at him for a moment, but then walked back to where she first came in.
Draxum stared at the poor mutant, its body was now mangled beyond recognition. Its blood and brains spilled from its head onto the dirt floor.
Draxum got up and left without the item, he had to tell Splinter and the boys. He made a stop at the bar for a minute to steal some of the fancy alcohol and then he actually left.
When Draxum got home he found Raph crying, while Splinter comforted him, “He hates me pops. He’s never going to forgive me for taking him away.” Splinter gave Raph a hug, “Purple doesn’t hate you, he’s still trying to figure out how to forgive you and himself son. I promise he will never ever hate you.” Raph looked at him, “Really?” Spinter nodded, “Trust me red. Now go and get some sleep.”
Splinter looked at Draxum and took his hand, “Did you get it, my love?” Draxum looked away, “No, I'm sorry. There’s something else you should know.” Splinter looked at him, “What is it?” Draxum took his hand and led him to the armchair. Draxum looked at the ground, “It’s about April.” Splinter’s face fell, “What about her?” Draxum sighed, “She’s still there.” Splinter looked at him confused, “What do you mean?” Draxum looked down at the ground, “She’s alive, she’s been there all this time.” Splinter shook his head, “That’s not possible. The boys saw her, she was dead.” Draxum grabbed Splinter’s hands, “I know it doesn’t make sense but I saw her, she was there.” Splinter frowned, “How did you find her?” Draxum looked away, “She was… she was in the battle Nexus fighting.” Splinter froze, “Draxum are you serious?” Draxum nodded, “I would never lie to you about this.” Splinter began to cry and Draxum wrapped him in his embrace.
-
Mikey walked towards the bathroom, he really needed to stop drinking water before bed. Mikey stopped and heard what sounded like sobbing. Mikey stopped and looked around the corner into the living room to see his two dads in a hug. Mikey hid behind the wall again and Splinter spoke, “She’s been there all this time. We didn’t even look. She’s been there for two years. She's been stuck there for two whole years.” Mikey heard Draxum, “We didn’t know darling, we didn’t know.” Mikey took in the words that Draxum just said. Darling? Since when did his other dad call his first dad darling? And what were they talking about? Spinter spoke again, “We have to get her. We have to get April away from Big Mama.” Mikey froze at those words, April, was she alive? Mikey didn’t wait to hear another word and ran off towards Leo’s room first.
“Leo! Wake up Leo!” Leo opened his eyes annoyed, “Ugh what is it, Mike?” Mikey shook him, “This is important! Wake up!” Leo sighed sitting up, “What’s so important?” Leo saw that Mikey had a look of hope, “April might be alive.” Leo’s eyes widened, “Mike are you hearing yourself?” Mikey sighed, “I know it sounds insane, but I heard dads talking about her. Remember how Draxum had to go get something?” Leo nodded, “What has that got to do with this?” Mikey breathed in, “I think he went to steal something from Big Mama, and he said that he saw April there, and dad said that they had to get April away from Big Mama. That means that April’s alive!” Leo looked down at the ground, “We don’t know that Mikey.” Mikey grabbed Leo’s arm, “Even if we don’t we should still look! Because what if she is there!” Leo looked up and saw the hope written all over Mikey’s face and sighed, “You make a convincing argument little brother.” Mikey pulled Leo up, “Now get dressed while I tell Raph!”
Mikey ran to his oldest brother’s room and shook him awake, Raph immediately sat up in a panic, “What’s wrong, is everything okay? Are we under attack?” Mikey shook his head, “No Raph, but we’re going on a mission." Raph looked at Mikey, confused, "What mission? And why do we have to go on it now?" Mikey squeezed his arm, "It's April. She might be alive. We're heading to Nexus Hotel to check." Raph took Mikey’s shoulder, “Mikey April’s gone. We saw her. Sunita watched her die.” Mikey shook his head, “I heard dads talking about her. Please Raph, we need to check please.” Mikey gave Raph his puppy eyes and Raph sighed, “Fine we’ll check but if things start to go wrong we leave.” Mikey smiled, “Now we just need to tell Donnie!” Raph grabbed Mikey’s arm before he could go to Donnie’s room, “Raph?” Raph shook his head, “Don’t tell Donnie. Not until we’re sure that April’s alive, we don’t want to get his hopes up only for April…” Raph didn’t finish his sentence and Leo came in, “Raph’s right if we tell Donnie and it turns out Dad was wrong then it’s going to break him all over again. He was the closest to April.” Mikey looked between the two, Raph couldn’t meet his eyes, while Leo stared hard at Mikey, “You can’t tell him.” Mikey frowned, “Alright.”
Mikey shook Donnie awake, “What is it, Angelo?” Mikey looked down at the ground and took a deep breath, “We have an important mission dad wants us to go on.” Donnie blinked at Mikey, “That wasn’t on my planned schedule for our missions, our next mission is supposed to be next week.” Mikey laughed nervously, “It came up last minute, and… uh dad said he’d reward us with hugs?” Donnie sighed, “And where is this mission at?” Mikey forced a smile, “At the Nexus Hotel.” Donnie froze, but then began to get ready, “Meet me out there.” Mikey nodded and left.
Raph put a hand on Mikey’s shoulder, “You're doing the right thing.” Mikey turned to Raph, “Did we? We’re lying to our brother about our closest friends who could be alive.” Raph sighed, “Mikey-” Donnie came out. Leo stretched, “Well let’s go, guys!”
-
The boys arrived at the Nexus Hotel, “Alright so here’s the plan.” Raph said, “We don’t actually have one. All I got is to be stealthy and look through each room, to find what Splinter wants and then go home and deliver the package." Donnie scoffed at this but said nothing.
The boys entered the hotel and split up to look through each room.
-
Mikey tiptoed from door to door. So far he hadn’t found April. Mikey opened the next door to find Gus sitting there, “Oh no.” Gus turned and Mikey began to run. Mikey heard Gus behind him and felt himself get picked up, “Shit.”
-
Leo had opened a portal to Big Mama’s office and began to look around for any clues of April’s existence. Leo walked toward Big Mama’s desk and began to search through it. He looked through multiple stacks of papers. “No, no, goddammit where is it?! There’s nothing in here about a hostage.” Leo heard a laugh from behind him, “Maybe it’s because I’m not an idiot turtley-boo.” Leo turned to see Big Mama smiling, “Now what is it exactly that you're here for?” Leo glared at her, “Where is she?” Big Mama sighed, “You’ll have to be more specific dearie.” Leo gripped the back of his swords, "You know who I'm talking about." Big Mama smirked, “I don’t believe I do turtle-boo.” Leo unsheathed his swords, “Where is April.” Big Mama raised a brow, “Oh her. Well, I suppose there’s no point in hiding it now. Yes, she’s here.” Leo’s eyes widened, “She’s really here. She’s really alive.” Leo muttered this to himself and Big Mama turned, “I suppose you want to see her again. So I’ll help you, but she might not be the same April O’Neil you knew and loved.” Leo froze, “What do you mean?” Big Mama turned with a smile, “I guess you’ll have to find out when you see her!” Leo took a step forward only for him to fall on his face, “What the-” Leo looked to see that his feet were covered in Big Mama’s webs. Leo looked at Big Mama who was now standing over him, “Don’t worry turtle-boo it’s only temporary.”
-
Raph and Donnie snuck into Big Mama’s dungeon. While Donnie looked around he heard a voice, “Turtle-boo do you want to know why you're really here?” Donnie turned to see Big Mama. Donnie pointed his bo at her, “Big Mama what an awful surprise.” Big Mama put a hand to her mouth, “No need to be rude turtle-boo. I’m just here to tell you something.” Donnie rolled his eyes, “I’d rather not.” Big Mama turned with a shrug, “Alright guess you’ll never know why you’re actually here.” Donnie laughed, “If you think I’m going to fall for whatever your plan is then you’re wrong.” Big Mama smirked, still not facing Donnie, “Even if it was about your best friend.” Donnie froze, “You killed her. There’s nothing more to it.” Big Mama turned back to him, “Did I, or is that just what you assumed?” Donnie glared, “She’s not here anymore because of you.” Big Mama smiled, “Turtle-boo what’s the actual reason you’re on this mission?” Donnie opened his mouth only for him to shut it. Big Mama spoke, “April’s alive turtle-boo your brothers just kept it from you.” Donnie shook his head, “You're lying.” Big Mama shrugged, “Believe what you want. Just know turtle-boo that your brothers aren’t telling you everything.” Donnie gritted his teeth and ran towards her with his bo.
-
“Raph.” Raph turned, shocked to see that Donnie was actually talking to him, “Yeah Donnie?” Donnie looked up with an angry look on his face, “Is April alive?” Raph’s eyes widened, “Donnie-” Donnie let out a humorless laugh, “So that’s what this is! And you didn’t tell me?! You didn’t tell me my best friend was still alive!” Raph reached out for Donnie only for Donnie to shove him away, “Donnie we didn’t know for sure if she was alive. We wanted to make sure, so we didn’t get your hopes up.” Donnie turned tears in his eyes, “How dare you. She was my best friend, and you decided to keep that from me!” Donnie turned away, “How long have you known?” Raph looked away, “Just a couple of hours ago Donnie I swear.” Donnie didn’t say anything.
Raph felt something wrap around him and he looked at Donnie only to see he was also seeing he was wrapped in webs. Raph heard Big Mama before he could see her, “Hello turtley-boos!” Donnie’s eyes widened, “I thought I-'' Big Mama laughed, “Killed me? Well, you thought wrong.” Raph stared at Donnie with worry, “Donnie?” Donnie gave a laugh of pity, “What Raphael? Did you expect me to let her go after ‘killing’ my best friend only for her to have been here this entire time?” Big Mama sighed, “I suppose I should put you with your brothers.” Donnie stayed silent, while Raph stared at his brother, terrified for him. Raph turned to Big Mama, “What are you going to do to us.” Big Mama smiled, “You’ll see turtley-boo.”
-
Raph and Donnie were thrown into a room, Raph immediately got up and began to bang on the door, “LET US OUT!” Raph heard a cough and turned to find Leo sitting there with Mikey curled up on his lap. Leo raised a brow at Raph, “Yeah I tried that already.” Raph sighed, “What does she plan to do?” Leo shrugged, “She said something about taking us to April.” Donnie stayed quiet. Mikey looked up with a sigh, “We’ve been here for an hour.” Raph opened his mouth only to hear a clicking sound. The four brothers turned to see the door in front of them opening. The brothers exchanged a look with each other and walked through the door.
As the boys walked out lights came on over the ring and they were blinded for a moment, they then heard Big Mama’s voice, “Hello my fabdubulos fans! It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The turtley-boos versus our two-year reigning champion!” The four boys exchanged a look realizing what was about to happen.
One of the cages in front of them began to creak open. When it finally was fully open a figure stepped out, they had gloves and a cloak over them so the boys could not see the face of their opponent. When the cloaked person saw the boys they froze, but only for a moment.
The figure then ran straight at Donnie, it was then that all of them realized the figure was holding something. Donnie used his bo and smacked the figure away. They landed on their feet and began to look between the boys as if they were scanning them. The figure then went for Leo and swung the thing that they were holding, which everyone now realized was a nailed bat. Leo didn't have his swords because Big Mama had taken them so he had to dodge. The figure then went after Mikey only for Raph to catch them and throw them away. The figure rose up again and ran towards Mikey again and landed a blow.
“MIKEY!” The three brothers yelled Mikey’s name as he flew across the stadium and into the wall. Raph and Leo rushed over to Mikey.
Donnie ran at the figure and slammed the bo into them, and the figure fell to the ground, the hood coming off. Donnie stood above the figure and pointed his bo at them, “It’s over.” The figure turned their head and Donnie dropped his bo, eyes wide, “April?”
The other boys turned, hearing what Donnie said, and saw April’s face, though she had changed. Her curly hair was still curly but now in a long low ponytail, her face, no, her eye, she only had one. Where her other eye should’ve been was an eyepatch.
April glared at Donnie, “Hello Donatello.” Donnie stared and felt tears come to his eyes, “April?” April kicked Donnie off of her and grabbed her bat, “Yeah it’s me.” Donnie watched in shock as April walked towards him, “April what are you-?” Donnie didn’t get to finish his sentence because April hit him with the bat once again. Donnie fell to the ground holding his nose as blood came pouring out. Donnie looked up at April, “April why are you doing this? We’re best friends.” April laughed, “Best friends? Let me tell you something, Donnie. Do best friends leave you to be tortured by Big Mama? Do best friends abandon you for two years straight? Do best friends leave you to fight to the death?” Donnie looked at April tears falling down his face, “April I didn’t know. I didn’t know you were here.” April looked down at Donnie, “I’m done with this make-believe friendship.” April kneeled down and gripped Donnie’s face with her gloved hands, “You mean nothing to me Donnie, absolutely nothing.” Donnie sat there frozen as April’s words sunk in, he meant nothing to her.
Raph shoved April away from Donnie and put himself in front of him, “Stay away from him.” April smiled picking up her bat, “Raph.” Raph gritted his teeth, “Back off. I don’t know what you’ve done to her but you aren’t April.” April smirked, “But I am Raph you can’t possibly think I’d be the same April you knew from before.” Raph shook his head, “No I don’t think you’re ever going to be the same, but I know that our April would never try to hurt us.” April looked down at the ground as if she was trying to decide and then she lunged at Raph.
Raph put his arms up and felt the nails of the bat hit his arms, he winced but was able to push her away. April smirked and then ran towards Leo and Mikey, “LEO, MIKEY!” Leo turned to see April charging at the two of them. Leo got in front of Mikey and attempted to kick April’s feet out from under her only for April to swing and hit Leo in the head, Leo fell to the ground, blood staining the floor. Mikey stared in horror, “Leo? Leo come on you need to get up come on Leo.” April looked at Mikey and swung only for Raph to jump in the way. Raph was hit in the shoulder; he felt himself freeze as he turned to see it was the same shoulder that the Krang had stabbed him a few years ago. Raph looked at April and she smiled and removed the bat and then slammed it into his shoulder. “RAPH!” Raph could hear either Mikey or Donnie yelling at him but he refused to move because if he did then April would get to Mikey and an unconscious Leo. Raph turned his head, “Mikey run. Get help get dad or Draxum.” Mikey shook his head, “I won’t leave you.” Raph locked eyes with Donnie and nodded, “Sorry little brother.” Mikey looked at Raph confused only for him to get scooped up into an escape pod. Mikey stared at his brothers in horror as he was forcefully taken to safety. The last thing Mikey saw before exiting the Battle Nexus was April stabbing her nailed bat into Raph’s shoulder.
-
Raph felt as the nails went into his shoulder he looked to see blood pouring out of it as April pulled the bat out and began to swing again. Raph groaned in agony but stayed there worried she’d go after Leo. She kept going over and over again. More and more blood spilled out until he eventually collapsed onto the ground.
April turned her attention back to Donnie who was laying there in shock and horror. She smiled and walked over. Blood was all over the bat and staining her clothes. “Well, Donnie I guess it’s your turn. It’s too bad that Mikey got away but oh well three out of four doesn’t hurt right?” Donnie stared at her saying nothing, “Hm got nothing to say?” Donnie looked up with tears in his eyes, “I’m sorry.” April didn’t say anything as she tore Donnie's battle shell off.
Donnie began to back away until he hit a wall he remembered the last time he almost had his shell cracked was when he was in the tunnel with Mikey during the Krang invasion, but now. Was this how his shell would be smashed to pieces by his own best friend? April grabbed Donnie and shoved him to the ground. Donnie could hear the crowd cheering for April to crack his shell. Donnie felt April’s bat hit his shell and heard the crack before he felt the pain. Donnie heard another crack and bit his tongue because of how bad the pain was. It felt as if he was being burnt alive from the inside out. Donnie waited for another swing but it never came.
“Donnie?” Donnie opened his eyes to see April staring at him. She dropped her bat and collapsed onto the ground. Donnie looked at his wristwatch and clicked it, allowing the other emergency escape pods to take them home.
-
April awoke to find herself in bed and saw Splinter and Draxum standing over her, “Splints? Drax? Are you guys real?” The two men nodded. April shook her head, “No I have to be dreaming, but then… wait where are the boys?” Splinter turned away, “After you gained control for a second you collapsed Donnie used the pods to get you and the boys out.” April felt everything come rushing back to her, the bracelet Big Mama had attached to her, what she had done to the boys, and to the Yokai's who were also trapped there. April stood up, “I have to see them.” Splinter nodded and told her they were all in the living room. As April left, Splinter grabbed Draxum’s hand, “Do you think she’ll be alright?” Draxum nodded, “With time my love with time.”
-
April rushed into the living room to see the four brothers watching a Lou Jitsu movie, “Guys?” The brothers turned and all of them broke into smiles. April on the other hand saw the injuries she had left on them, Raph’s shoulder, Leo’s head, Mikey’s stomach, and Donnie’s shell. April began to cry, “I’m so sorry.” The boys all pulled her into a hug, “It’s not your fault April.” Raph said. Mikey spoke next, “Yeah we know you didn’t mean it.” Leo smiled, “After everything that’s happened we’re just glad to know that you’re okay.” Donnie squeezed April, “I’m sorry we left you there.” The group hugged and cried tears of joy realizing that they were all together and that nothing was going to separate them ever again.
-
That night April stayed in the lair, she decided she’d see her mom and Sunita in the morning. April lay down in the living room looking at the bracelet still around her wrist, she’d ask Donnie to take it off in the morning, but for now, she just wanted to get some rest. She knew she’d never be the same, but she knew she would be fine because she had everyone she needed in her life again.
She started to drift off when she heard footsteps enter. April looked up alarmed, and grabbed her bat, only to see the boys, “Sleepover?” Leo had an awkward smile on his face. April rolled her eyes, “Alright fine. Just tonight though.” The boys all sat next to her, with sleeping bags, and turned on one of the Jupiter Jim movies.
April smiled as she looked at the sleeping bodies around her. She sighed and laid down cuddling with the rest of them and smiled as she drifted off to sleep in the cuddle pile.