Sofia was sat in the dojo, her hands set on her knees. She was trying to meditate, but her mind wasn't helping her at all.

"Sofia, are you alright?"

She opened her eyes to look at Splinter who had knelt in front of her. "I'm okay. Just a bit overwhelmed today is all. Full moon tonight. Everyone's aura is amplified."

Splinter raised a brow. "Everyone's aura?"

"Yeah. My ma told me that's what it was. I've always been sensitive to the life force of other people. It's normally not a problem, but the full moon just makes it a bit overwhelming," Sofia explained.

"Interesting," Splinter spoke slowly as he stroked his beard.

"Normally meditating helps, but I've just..." Sofia trailed off with a quiet sigh. "I've had a lot on my mind and for some reason I just can't seem to clear my thoughts."

"Perhaps talking about it would help?" Splinter suggested.

The kunoichi frowned as she looked down. "I don't know... it's... kinda embarrassing..."

How was she supposed to explain to him that she was absolutely infatuated with his son, but he now had eyes for someone else who happened to be their enemy? That she had been comparing herself to the enemy and her confidence was dwindling even though she knew it was stupid?

"I understand if you don't feel comfortable talking to me about whatever is afflicting you, but I do think you should talk to someone. It isn't healthy to let your thoughts sit and lead you into a downward spiral," Splinter advised.

She gave a small nod as her lips curled into a smile. "Thank you, Sensei. I'll be okay. Just a bump in the road."

Splinter returned her smile, admiring her optimistic outlook. He rose to his feet and opened his mouth to speak when he felt a sharp pain go through his head.

He let out a cry as he gripped his head, falling back to his knees.

Sofia shot up quickly and was at his side in seconds. "Splinter?! Are you okay?"

Leo and Mikey were the first to make it into the dojo, followed by Raph, and then Donnie.

"Sensei, are you okay?" Donnie questioned quickly as they all hovered around Splinter.

Splinter held his head as he sat on his heels. "I am fine."

"Are you sure you're all right? You don't seem-" Leo started before Donnie's ringtone went off.

"Hey, that's April's ring tone!" Donnie announced with a bright smile, only for Mikey and Raph to begin making kissy faces at him.

Sofia snickered as she nudged the two boys.

"Hey, April," Donnie said before clearing his throat, trying to sound more suave. "I mean, hey, April. I mean-"

"Donnie, stop talking. I need some help. I'm having a little bit of a pest problem."

🍕

"Oh, wow, the city is so beautiful in the daytime. Except for the, you know, billions of rats," Mikey commented as they ran along the roofs through the cloudy day.

"Actually, the entire rat population of New York is only about thirty six million, which-"

"I will smack you out of your shell," Raph threatened as he glared at Donnie.

Sofia chuckled lightly before she came to a halt after seeing April on top of the telephone pole.

"Uh, guys, we may have a problem," Leo said, having stopped beside Sofia.

Mikey looked up at April and a grin pulled at his lips. "Oh, rats! Get it?"

"For the fourteenth time, yes," Raph rasped in annoyance.

"We're coming, April! Don't go anywhere!" Donnie called over to the ginger who looked down at her own situation.

"Where could I possibly go?"

Sofia snorted a laugh before throwing a hook at the telephone pole. The turtles all followed suit.

They all swung over to the pole before making their way up towards April. The rats continued to climb up the pole around them as they climbed.

Raph huffed as he kicked a rat off the pole. "These stupid rats are starting to get on my nerves."

"Rats aren't stupid. Despite their small brain size, they're remarkably- Ow!"

Raph help up another rat after having launched one at his brother. "I warned you."

"Raph, put down the rat and keep climbing," Leo scolded.

"Hurry!" April squeaked out from the top.

"Uh, guys!" Sofia warned after looking down to see that the rats had nearly chewed through the wood of the pole.

The wood began to give out and the pole tilted, making April lose her grip.

Donnie immediately swung out and grabbed April from her fall, landing back on the pole with the girl in his grasp." Gotcha! As long as Donnie's here, you have nothing to- Oh, boy."

The pole fell to the side, making the group cry out. The wires caught and the pole stayed hovering off the ground.

"Oh, okay. I appreciate you guys coming to help, but how is this better than getting eaten by rats?" April questioned as she clung to the pole for dear life.

"At least it'll be quick. With rats, they chew and chew and chew and chew and chew-" Mikey went on.

"Okay, we get it," April grumbled.

"Let's move," Donnie said as he stood on the pole, running towards the end with his brothers and the two girls.

The wires weren't able to hold the weight if the six, snapping back which made the pole launch them over onto a nearby roof.

Leo stood with a grin. "Chew on that, rat finks!"

Everyone just stared at him.

"Oh, come on. That sounded cool," Leo mumbled which made Sofia stifle a laugh.

"Does anyone know what the heck is going on?" April spoke up.

Donnie hummed as he held a finger to his chin. "I'm not sure. But whatever it is, this attack is extremely well coordinated. Obviously, there is a higher intelligence at work here."

"Well, that rules out Mikey," Raph teased.

"I'm serious. Someone or something is controlling every rat in the city," Donnie said as he looked at his red clad brother.

"Wait a sec. Every rat?" Raph questioned, his eyes widening.

Leo grasped ehat Raph meant. "That means that Splinter could be-"

🍕

"Is he okay?" Sofia asked as they all looked over Splinter who was laying on a tatami mat, completely unconscious.

"Donnie, you're the smart one. What do we do?" Raph spoke up.

Donatello hummed while he looked over his father. "Maybe we should poke him."

"Good idea. Mikey, poke him," Leo instructed quickly.

"No way, I'm not poking him! You poke him!" Mikey cried out.

"Okay, we'll put it to a vote," Leo suggested.

The three brothers all looked at the youngest. "Mikey."

Mikey pouted. "I want a recount!"

"No one's poking, Splinter!" Sofia said quickly before she knelt beside their sensei.

They all watched carefully as the brunette gently put her hand over Splinters'.

"His aura is weaker, but he's fine," Sofia said softly as she looked up at the others. "I'll stay by his side till he wakes up."

The others nodded and went on trying to figure out a solution to their rat problem on the surface.

Leo walked over and knelt beside Sofia who remained sitting calmly beside Splinter. "How is he?"

"No change yet. It's almost as if he's not fully unconscious, but that's just my guess," Sofia said as she turned to looked at the turtle.

"You mentioned his aura before. You've said stuff like that before too. What do you mean by that?" Leo asked, a curious glint in his eyes.

Sofia moved her gaze back down to Splinter while taking a breath. "Every living creature has a soul. That soul is where our life, our love, our past, and future live. While we have a physical body, our soul emits a different energy. That comes off in aura. It's like physical representation of our life force."

"And you can see his aura?" Leo spoke.

"I can see yours too," she confirmed with a small smile. "You can tell a lot about a person by their aura. Yours has gotten a lot stronger since we first met."

"How can you see that? I mean, feeling someone's aura is one thing. Sensei has said that it took him years to strengthen his sensitivity to the aura of the world around him, but seeing it?"

"My nonna and my ma were able to see aura as well. There's not much it does for me. I'm not as powerful as they were yet, and I haven't learned nearly as much as I need to. For now, it's more of a distraction than anything," Sofia said, holding her hand up in a fist. "I'll learn to control it one day. I have to."

She felt a hand rest on her shoulder and she looked at Leo who was smiling at her.

"If anyone can do it, I know you can. You're strong."

"Thanks, Leo. It means a lot." Sofia smiled, even though she felt her heart squeeze.

She knew that he only meant well and that he did believe in her, but that little voice told her that maybe he thought Karai could do it better. She quickly kicked that thought away and turned back to Splinter after hearing a groan.

Leo straightened as he stood, helping Splinter to his feet. "Sensei, are you okay?"

Splinter shook his head, his hand resting on his pained temple. "No, Leonardo. I am not. It would appear that your former adversary, Dr. Falco, has returned."

"Falco's behind this?" Donnie questioned as his eyes widened. "How is that possible?"

"Who's Falco?" Sofia questioned quietly as she looked at Leo.

"Remember the monkey that got loose? I told you about the scientist guy, right?" Leo replied.

"Oh, yeah. The telepathic guy." Sofia nodded as she crossed her arms.

"Somehow he has acquired a telepathic connection with every rat in New York. And he now calls himself 'the Rat King'," Splinter explained.

"Oh, great. So now we're letting the bad guys name themselves? We gotta take him down!" Mikey whined with a narrowed look as they followed Splinter into the dojo.

"Yes, Michelangelo, you do. The Rat King will not rest until he has total control of this city, and my mind," Splinter spoke as he walked over to the small shrine he had for his precious deceased wife and daughter.

"Sensei..." Leo spoke slowly as he watched Splinter with a frown on his face.

"Everything I knew is gone. My wife, my daughter, my clan, even my humanity. You four are all I have left," Splinter said to his sons softly.

"Don't you worry, sensei. We'll stop him," Raph reassured.

"Yeah. And besides. You have April and I as well," Sofia said as she smiled at her sensei. "We may not be your wife and daughter, but we're all your family. You're not alone."

Splinter's face fell into a small smile. "Thank you, Sofia."

"But we gotta find the guy first," Donnie interrupted.

Splinter hummed with a nod. "When the Rat King attempted to take control of me, I could see into his mind. You will find his lair in an abandoned utility junction beneath Herald Square."

"Let's go play exterminator," Raph spoke, a grin crossing his lips.

Splinter then hissed in pain as his hand flew up to his temple. hunching over as Sofia and Leo held him gently to make sure he didn't fall.

"Fight him, sensei," Leo urged gently.

"I will. Just hurry.'

April stepped forward with a small frown. "It's okay, guys. You go after the Rat King. I'll stay with sensei."

Leo nodded quickly before everyone, save for Splinter and April, ran out of the lair to go find the Rat King.

🍕

"What's going to happen to Splinter if we can't stop the Rat King? Which, by the way, lamest villain name ever," Mikey spoke with a grimace.

Donnie just shook his head. "Let it go already."

"We're going to stop the Rat King, and Splinter's going to be fine," Raph said before glancing at his older brother. "Right, Leo?"

"Shh, quiet," Leo said quickly as he stood still. "Do you guys hear that?"

A small rat ran up, scittering between Sofia's feet quickly.

"It's just one rat-" Sofia said before she turned to see the oncoming wave or rodents. "My bad."

Raph's jaw dropped. "You gotta be kidding."

"Aw, ra-" Mikey started, only to be slapped by Raph.

"Uh, Leo, any ideas?" Donnie whined.

Leo nodded. "Just one. Move!"

They all darted off down the sewer, trying to outrun the horde of rats.

After realizing they weren't fast enough, Leo used the side of the pipe wall to boost himself up. He grabbed onto the sewage lines that hung on the ceiling before his brothers and Sofia followed suit.

Mikey screeched as a rat scampered up from his foot and up onto his head, giving a good chomp before leaping off.

"Oh, no. They've got the taste for turtle now," Mikey cried out.

"Come on. Just keep moving," Leo instructed and they began using the pipes to move threw the sewers without touching the rat covered ground.

🍕

"I'm just saying, I can think of a million better names than the Rat King," Mikey continued to complain as they made their way through the sewers with the help of the ceiling pipes. "There's Ratzilla, the Verminator, Lord Rattington-"

"Can it, Mikey. We're almost there. The utility chamber should be on the other side of that wall," Leo said as he stopped moving.

"Uh, you mean that disgusting, furry, squirming wall?" Raph mentioned as he looked at the 'wall' suspiciously.

Sofia looked at the wall with a grimace. The tube was completely blocked off by a multitude of rats that were all trying to pass each other, causing them all to get stuck.

"How are we supposed to get past that?" Donnie mumbled.

Leo glanced around as he tried to formulate a plan. His eyes landed on a few barrels that sat by the wall of rats. "Raph, those barrels. Ventilate 'em."

Raph nodded as he pulled out a few stars. "You got it."

"Uh, Leo, you do realize those chemicals are highly combustible," Donnie pointed out as he looked at Leo.

"You don't say," Leo said with a grin, grabbing one of his katanas from its sheath. He slashed at the electrical wiring that lined the ceiling. The cables fell, letting the inside wiring make contact with the chemicals, causing an explosion.

Sofia turned her head away from the blast as she felt the warmth hit her cheek. She looked over at Leo who wore a victorious grin on his face.

"Let's move," the blue clad turtle spoke sternly.

The five of them made their way into the utility chamber where they saw a skeleton of a man standing before them.

"Ah, my turtle friends, we meet again," the man spoke. "And you brought a friend along this time."

"Except last time, Falco, you weren't wearing a sad Halloween costume," Raph mocked as he whipped out his sais.

"I am the Rat King!" Falco corrected in a rumbling shout.

Mikey rolled his eyes before announcing, "lame."

"Sorry, we don't have any treats for you. But we've got a few tricks," Leo said as he unsheathed his katana before a ringtone went off. Everyone looked at Donnie, frowning at the lovey ringtone he had for April. "Way to ruin the moment, Donnie."

Donnie slumped back a bit as he answered his phone. "Uh, April, now's not really the best time."

Sofia looked over at Donnie to see him stiffen.

"What do you mean, 'gone'? Gone where?"

"Here."

They all snapped their heads towards a nearby ledge to see Splinter standing there, looking like the lights were on but no one was home.

"What's wrong with him?" Leo spoke slowly.

"It's like his brain is completely turned off," Donnie replied as he stepped towards the ledge.

"You mean like Mikey?" Raph and Mikey said in unison as the orange clad turtle looked at brother with a grimace.

"Dude, you are so predictable," Mikey grumbled as he shook his head in disapproval.

"Sensei, snap out of it," Leo urged, ignoring Raph's comemnts.

Splinter merely stood there with a blank expression. "You waste your words. This is where I belong, with my brothers."

"He is mine now," Falco spoke up with a grin. "Imagine my delight when I realized that controlling your master would not only make me invincible, but would also be the key to your demise."

Sofia felt her chest tighten as Falco cackled at the delight of his plan coming together.

"Splinter, destroy them."

"Sensei, DON'T!" Leo cried, taking a step forward.

Splinter seemed to falter foramoment which made Falco grit his teeth. He removed the bandage wrappings from over his eyes, his red eyes piercing through the dim light.

"Sensei... please," Sofia plead quietly as Splinter sauntered towards the five.

"Are we really going to do this?" Donnie questioned shakily, pulling his bostaff into his hands.

"Remember, we did beat him once. Kind of," Raph grumbled, spinning his sais as he hypeed himself up.

"Yeah, and we can beat him again. We can do this, guys. Do not hesitate."  Lep gripped his swords and took a sharp breath. "Take sensei down."

They all moved in sync, trying to land the first blow. The moment tey all looked, Splinter was gone. He just disappeared.

Sofia looked where he had been previously standing before feeling his aura behind her. "Oh shi-"

Splinter wipped the floor with their asses before any of them could even blink.

Leo groaned after his back hit the wall. He quickly jumped to te side, catching Sofia in his arms before she could hit the floor.

"Thanks," Sofia said as she breathed deeply, looking up at the blue clad turtle.

Leo gave her a quick smile before Donnie began to speak.

"I just had a horrible realization. He's been going easy on us all these years," Donnie said as he looked at his brothers.

"Donnie, distract him!" Leo ordered and the purple masked turtle nodded nbefore running at Splinter.

Leo grabbed Sofia by the shoulders as they stayed knelt on the ground.

Sofia's cheeks went pink as she looked directly at Leo. Did he always have freckles? They definitely weren't as prominent as Mikey's but upclose she could faintly-

"Do you think you could get Falco out of his head?" Leo spoke, snappping her attention back to reality.

"Huh?"

"I don't know. Maybe like use that aura thing? Can you do that?" Leo suggested as his eyes darted around her face for confirmation.

"I can only see aura, Leo. I don't know how to do anything with it," Sofia sad quickly, glancing over at the fight happening across the room.

"Your dad said that you lose points in life if you never try, right?"

Her eyes widened. She had told him that a while ago. Hearing him say it made her heart flutter. "Yeah. He did say that, didn't he?"

She took a deep breath and gave a sharp nod.

"I'll try my best."

Leo smiled and stood up before grabbing his katanas once again. "We'll get him and let you do your thing."

"Okay," Sofia said as she watched Raph get swatted to the side by Splinter. She bit the inside of her cheek as she breathed deeply.

"Hey," Leo said, grabbing her hand before giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You can do this. I know you can."

Sofia nodded as a sense of confidence flooded her veins. "Yeah. I've got this."

Leo let go of her hand before grabbing his second katana and running towards Splinter.

Sofia watched as Leo blocked, slashed and parried. The way he moved to defend himself while-

"Come on, Sofia. Focus," she scolded herself as she looked at her feet. She moved her eyes back to the fight, waiting for Leo to give her an opening.

Leo rolled out of the way of Splinter's sword only to be grabbed and pinned to the floor.

He grunted before his eyes went wide. "Sensei, please. Wait!"

"Finish him," Falco demanded coldly.

"Remember who you are," Leo pleaded. "You're Hamato Yoshi."

The mention of his name seemed to make him falter.

"Donnie, Raph, now!"

The two brothers grabbed Splinter, pulling him off of Leo and pinning him to the floor.

Sofia ran over and slid on her knees, stopping in front of Splinter.

"You can do this, Sofie," Leo said quickly.

She nodded and put a hand on Splinter's head, feeling his aura surround her hand as her fingers stretched against his soft fur.

She tried to focus on his aura. 'Maybe if I can strengthen his aura...'

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She pictured him meditating in front of the shrine for his family.

"Please, father. We need you," Leo said softly with sadness seeping through his tone.

Falco grit his teeth, feeling his control over Splinter begin to falter. "Don't listen to him, brother. Your place is with me."

Splinter broke through the turtles' grip they had on him, throwing them back.

Sofia scittered backwards on her butt, afraid Splinter was about to lay her out.

"My place..." Splinter began as his eyes fluttered shut. "...is with my sons."

Splinter took off running towards Falco and used two fingers.

The single jab was powerful enough to throw Falco back against the wall, knocking him out cold.

The turtles and Sofia blinked in surprise before the boys wrapped their father in a tight hug.

"Sensei!"

Splinter smiled as he looked at his sons before seeing a wave of rats crawl over Falco's body, leaving nothing behind.

"And that's the last we'll see of Count Ratula," Mikey announced before he slumped. "Yeah, all right. It's Rat King. But I'm naming the next one!"

"Sofia," Splinter spoke as he looked at the brunette. "Thank you. I could feel your energy fueling mine. I'm proud of you."

"Thank you," Sofia said with a curt nod, her smile growing.

"Let's go home," Splinter said and they all quickly nodded.

As they made their way back to the lair, Leo bumped into Sofia with a smile.

"I told you you could do it," Leo spoke softly.

Sofia smiled back before watching the ground where they walked. "Thanks, Leo."

Leo gave a playful frown as he stopped walking. "Woah, woah. Who's Leo?"

She looked at him curiously before rolling her eyes. "So sorry, Blue."

"That's better," he said with a chuckle before catching up with his family.

Sofia sighed softly, feeling her heart clench as he walked away.

God, how was she supposed to not fall for that boy?

🍕

Sofia laid back on the roof as she watched the sky with April by her side.

"April," she spoke, breaking the silence between them.

"Hmm?"

"What am I supposed to do?"

"About?"

Sofia went quiet, her face falling into a frown as she thought about Leo.

April sighed, sitting up to look at Sofia. "You just gotta stop thinking about him I guess. I've never been in your situation before so I don't really know how it works."

"That's the problem though," Sofia said as she sat up as well. "I can't stop thinking about him. Am I just supposed to stop hanging out with him and the guys? What would I tell them?"

"Good point," April mumbled.

"Sometimes I think that I'm getting over it and then he smiles at me and... mio dio..." She buried her face in her knees with a small whine. "I should've said something sooner. I shouldn't have played around and waited."

"It'll pass. We've still got our whole lives ahead of us," April reminded. "Someone else will come along."

"I know," she mumbled disheartedly.

She knew April was right, but it didn't make her feel any better. She didn't want someone else to come along.

She fell off the cliff and watching Leo fall off a different ledge to someone else, it hurt. And now she was struggling to find her way back up. Every time she found a foothold, the rocks crumbled and she ended up back at the bottom.

She couldn't find a way to the top.