One evening, in the sewers of New York City. Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, were preparing to enjoy some pizza with their sensei, Master Splinter, and their pet mouse, Linter.
“Nothing like having pizza on a nice, cozy evening with your family!” Leo said.
“Topped with pepperoni, mini muffins and potato chips!” Mikey said.
“And well as mushrooms, raspberry sherbet, and cheese puffs!” Raph said.
“Don’t forget to have some Ooze Sploosh soda with it!” Donnie said.
“Heh, my sons and their extravagant pizza combinations.” Splinter laughed.
Linter licked his lips and rubbed his hands in anticipation.
“You like it too, eh?” Splinter said to him.
“If Linter likes it, we will too!” Mikey said.
“Then let’s dig in!” Leo said.
The four ninja turtles and their pet mouse enjoyed the pizza, while Splinter preferred to eat some celery and carrot slices with ranch dressing. When they finished, they decided to watch some TV together. After all, ninja apprentices deserve some rest after tough training sessions. They turned on the TV, and it was on the news channel. The reporter was a beautiful red haired girl.
“This is April O’Neil, from Channel 6, reporting live in front of Eastman Bank.” She said. “At this moment, the bank is closing due to a massive rat infestation. Some witnesses even affirm to have seen the rats carrying some money in their mouths! The people are trying to find the best way possible to get rid of them. Who will be fit for this job? We will soon find out. This has been April O’ Neil. Thank you for tuning in.”
“Did you see that?” Donnie said.
“A rat infestation at the bank? That’s gross!” Raph said.
“No, I meant the girl! She was beautiful!”
“Donnie, we have more serious matters to worry about.” Leo said. “These people are helpless against these rats!”
“You want us to go up there and fight the rats ourselves?” Mikey asked.
“Why not just let them phone the exterminator?” Raph commented.
“There’s too many rats!” Leo said. “Not even all exterminators of New York would be enough to drive them away! They need help!”
“But what if the people sees us?” Mikey asked.
“Don’t worry. We can go there disguised, like we did before!”
“Do you want us to use my stylish human disguises?” Donnie asked.
“No, I have a better idea!”
Leo ran toward his room and brought four biker-like helmets and four capes.
“These are the costumes we’re gonna use?” Raph asked.
“Yep! Aren’t they cool?”
“What was your inspiration for them?” Donnie asked.
“My favorite show, Mighty Troopers!”
“But what’s with the capes? We’re hunting rats, not doing a motocross!” Mikey commented.
“And just like Edna Mode said, NO CAPES!” Donnie said.
“Guys, if we don’t use capes, people will see our shells and immediately recognize us as giant turtles!”
“Oh, good point.” Mikey said.
“My sons.” Splinter said. “Just leave Leonardo design the suits as he likes. As long as you wear them, you won’t have to worry about getting caught.”
“Master Splinter, you should stay here and take care of Linter.” Leo said.
“Yeah, we don’t want you two to get some fleas from those filthy rats!” Mikey said.
“Will do, Leonardo. Please take care, my sons.”
Leo, Raph, Mikey and Donnie headed to fight the rats and protect the humans. On the way, they tightened their capes and helmets. They didn’t want them to fall off in front of humans, exposing their turtle bodies. But in case they did, would the humans accept them as heroes for saving them from the rats? However, it wasn’t time for wondering things. They had work to do! When they came out of the sewers, they ran toward Eastman Bank to face the rats. Fleeing people saw them coming.
“Look, over there!”
“Who are they?”
“Are they superheroes?”
“No, they must be vigilantes.”
“You hear that?” Mikey said. “They already think we’re superheroes!”
“Looks like the capes did work after all.” Donnie said.
“Don’t get too excited, guys.” Leo said. “And don’t let your turtle features be seen!”
“Let’s eradicate these rats!” Raph said.
Unsheathing their weapons, the four brothers fought against the rats. But there was something odd. Instead of fleeing, the rats fought back as best as they could!
“Who thought the rats moves like those?” Leo asked.
“I’ve never seen rats doing karate chops and flying kicks… besides dad.” Mikey said.
“Look at their eyes!” Donnie said. “They don’t look normal. Something or someone must be controlling their every action!”
“You mean mind control?” Mikey asked.
“Yeah, it’s kind of obvious.”
“Brainwashed or not, we got them outsized! Let’s crush them!” Raph said.
The turtles kept fighting bravely until the rats had no other option than to drop the money and retreat. The crowd cheered at the four turtles.
“We did it! We actually did it!” Donnie said. “Now we’re acknowledged as heroes!”
“Well, at least it’s one step closer to finally getting out of the sewers.” Raph said.
“Yeah, living underground was getting kind of boring.” Mikey said.
“Alright, guys. Let’s go home now, before they find out our real identity.” Leo said.
Meanwhile, in the sewers, Splinter and Linter were sitting at the couch of the living room.
“I hope my sons did great fighting that rat invasion.” Splinter said.
Linter jumped from the couch and pointed at the TV.
“You’re right, Linter. Maybe watching some TV will ease my worries.”
Splinter turned on the TV. Again, it was in the news channel. Reporter April O’Neil was reporting everything that had happened earlier about the turtles and the rats.
“This is April O’Neil reporting. A few hours ago, four individuals in turtle like suits with helmets and capes fought bravely against the rat infestation at Eastman Bank. People call them the Super Green Guys.”
“Hmmm… Good thing they didn’t find out they’re actual turtles.”
“After being fought back, the rats retreated back into the sewers. Will they return? Let’s hope not. In case they do, citizens will be trying to find a way to permanently get rid of this rat plague. This has been April O’ Neil reporting. Good evening.”
“I may be a rat, but I hope those rats don’t try to move into our home.” Splinter commented.
Suddenly, Splinter heard something approaching in the distance.
“Boys, is that you?”
No one answered. However, some squeaks were heard in the distance, and they were getting louder as they approached the living room! Then, the source of the squeaking showed up. A swarm of rats! Splinter got onto his feet and grabbed his cane. Linter jumped next to him and pulled out his kunai. He had already learned some ninja skills by then. Both tried to fight the many rats, but soon were outnumbered. At that moment, a strange human-like figure appeared from between the rats.
“Who… who are you?” Splinter asked, startled.
“When I lived among humans, I used to be known as Victor Falco, but now that I have earned my place between rats, you can call me… the Rat King.”
The Rat King was wearing a what appeared to be a cybernetic headband around his forehead. He pushed a switch in it and launched a telepathic beam toward Splinter and Linter, hypnotizing them!
“And now that I have a human sized human rat and a ninja mouse in my team, I will be successful in stealing funds to create a place where rats and I can leave peacefully away from humans!”
Meanwhile, the turtles arrived back home from another sewer.
“Dad, we’re home!” Mikey said.
“We brought you a four cheese pizza, your favorite!” Donnie said.
But no one answered.
“Sensei? Linter?” Leo called.
“Hmm… that’s weird.” Raph said. “Is he meditating?”
The four brothers headed to the room where Splinter usually meditated, but there was no one to be seen.
“Where could have he gone?” Leo asked.
“Usually he wouldn’t leave without a human disguise.” Donnie said.
“Guys, is it just me, or does it smell like rats in here more than usual?” Mikey said.
“Mikey’s right. It does stink.” Raph said.
“But I thought we scared those rats away.” Leo said.
“Could they have passed through here? What if they kidnapped Linter? And Splinter too!” Mikey said.
Donnie pulled out a device.
“What is that?” Raph said.
“It’s a Scent Scanner. If the rats did capture Linter, this will show us where they went.”
The scanner picked up the scent, showing a map in its screen and a fume trail on it.
“The rats went that way!” Donnie said. “But wait! I’m picking up another kind of scent. Human scent, slightly overwhelmed by rat scent.”
“A human? In the sewers?” Leo asked.
“It seems so. Now let’s follow that scent!”
Leo, Mikey, Donnie and Raph followed the scent trail through the sewers until it went up a sewer grate.
“Oh no…” Mikey said. “Not out of the sewers again.”
“I guess there’s no way around it, Mikey.” Raph said.
“I think this calls for our superhero disguises one more time.” Leo said.
The turtles put on their superhero suits and went out to the streets once again. Advancing through the back alleys, they followed the rat scent trail. On their way, they stumbled once again into Eastman Bank!
“This place again?” Leo asked.
“The rats must have returned for the money, and were successful!” Mikey said.
“I can’t believe we didn’t stop them this time.” Raph said.
Suddenly, some citizens noticed them and approached them.
“It’s the Super Green Guys!” they said. “The rats came back! They robbed the bank! Will you stop them?”
“Uh… we’re on it, citizens!” Leo said. “Sorry for the inconvenience. But don’t worry, we’ll bring back the stolen goods. That’s a promise!”
While the people watched them, they kept following the rat scent trail. They went up a fire escape and into a gloomy building.
“It’s quiet… Too quiet.” Donnie said.
“Keep your guard up, ninjas!” Leo said.
When they reached the center of the building, they heard some faint squeaking.
“Linter? Is that you?” Mikey said.
“Yes…” A mysterious voice said. “But he is not alone. I got him some friends.”
A raggy, repulsive-looking man appeared from the darkness.
“Who or what are you?” Raph asked.
“I am… the Rat King.”
“More like Rag King! Who is your tailor, may I ask?” Mikey said.
The Rat King ignored this offensive joke and kept talking.
“So, you came here to get all the gold back, didn’t you!”
“Yes.” Leo said. “And you better surrender it all, or else…”
“Or else what?”
“You will have to face our ninja fury!” Donnie said.
“Ninjas, eh? Worthy opponents. I am a bit experienced in pro wrestling!”
“Then this is gonna be fun!” Raph said.
“Alright, let our battle begin!”
Leo was the first one to attack. Unsheathing his katanas, he rushed toward the Rat King. He tried slashing at him, but the villain kept dodging the attacks until he grabbed the turtle and hurled him back with a suplex. Next, Mikey ran toward the Rat King, and slid over the floor trying to knock him down. But the Rat King grabbed Mikey by the feet, swung him around and threw him against a wall.
“Ow, watch the shell!” Mikey said.
Spinning his bo staff, Donnie charged toward the Rat King, only for him to snap in half Donnie’s bo with a swipe of his hand.
“How come!?” Donnie said.
The Rat King did a drop kick on Donnie, taking his down.
“Looks like it’s all up to me now.” Raph said.
Raph jumped in front of the Rat King. The villain tried to grab him, but Raph ducked, rolled to one side, quickly stood up and kicked him. The Rat King did a spinning lariat, but Raph ducked again and hit him with a flying uppercut. Finally, the Rat King reached for Raph’s arms, but he hid inside his shell, and spinning inside it, knocked the Rat King to the ground.
“This can’t be… beaten by a turtle?”
“Face it, pal.” Raph said. “Just like Master Splinter says: not all things are what they seem.”
“Speaking of him, why don’t you say hello to him right now? Slave, attack!”
The Rat King pushed a button in his telepathic headband and, much to the turtles’ surprise, Master Splinter stepped on scene!
“Splinter!?” The four brothers exclaimed.
“Must…. exterminate… turtles!” he said, as if he was in pain.
“He must be in some kind of mind control!” Donnie said.
“Don’t worry, dad!” Leo said. “We’ll rescue you!”
Splinter began to fight his owns sons. Since he had many more years of experience in martial arts than the turtles, it was clear that they were no match for their sensei.
“It’s no use!” Mikey said. “He’s too strong!”
“There must be some way to free him from the brainwash.” Donnie said.
He thought for a second, then said:
“Wait a sec, I got it!”
He pulled out a bacon cheeseburger out of his shell.
“Look, Splinter! Your favorite cheeseburger!”
Splinter shook his head, then stared at the burger with his mouth watering.
“What?” the Rat King said.
“Heh, looks like his appetite is stronger than his ninja skills!” Raph commented.
“Don’t be so sure!” the Rat King said. “Little mouse, go!”
A hypnotized Linter emerged from between the rats, and swiftly scurried beneath the turtles’ feet. They began to laugh hysterically.
“Hahahahahahaha! Linter’s tickling our feet!” Leo said, amidst laughter.
“Did he get hypnotized too!?” Raph said, amidst laughter.
Laughing, Donnie accidentally hurled the burger into the air, and Splinter, who was still hypnotized, jumped to catch it midair and began eating it. While being tickled by Linter, Mikey spun around and accidentally threw his nunchucks away. One of them was launched toward the Rat King, but he managed to catch it. The second nunchuck knocked the burger off Splinter’s paws. Shocked, he turned to look at the Rat King, who was holding one of the nunchucks. Believing the Rat King was the one who took the burger from him, Splinter lunged toward him and scratched his face, damaging his telepathic headband in the process. Instantly, the rats, Linter and finally Splinter came to their senses, free from the mind control.
“No! My enslaved rodents!” the Rat King cried.
“Looks like “rats” all there is to it!” Leo said.
Dozens of rats scurried all over the place and left the building, panicked. Alone and defenseless, the Rat King had no other option than to flee.
“You might have won this time, but you haven’t seen the last of me! The Rat King will be back!”
Once the Rat King was gone, the turtles ran toward Splinter.
“Master Splinter, are you okay?” Donnie asked.
“I am not feeling so good, my sons.” Splinter said. “When that strange human appeared, I suddenly lost control of myself and went into a primal rage…”
“At least you’re safe now.” Raph said.
“And Linter is too!” Mikey said, petting the little mouse. “Did you miss us?”
“Alright, guys.” Leo said. “The rats, and the Rat King, are gone… for now, at least. Let’s take the money back to the bank, then return home.”
The turtles and Splinter put on superhero costumes and went to the bank to return all of the stolen money.
“This is April O’Neil, reporting live once again in front of Eastman Bank. The Super Green Guys have somehow found all of the stolen money and have brought it back to the bank. People are rejoicing with the arrival of these four new heroes. If these rats decide to return, you already know who to call! This has been April O’ Neil from Channel 6. Good evening.”
When she finished her report, a man of her camera crew called her:
“Mrs. O’Neil! They have found him. A man who claims he’s going to help the city get rid of all rats. His name’s… Baxter Stockman.”
THE END