“Guys, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“It’ll be fine Leo! The Mad Dogz are prepared for anything!”

Mikey had the great idea to go into the Hidden City without Big Mama, Godrick, Suzie, or literally any other adult. Leo was apprehensive but he wanted to hang out with his brothers.

Donnie was curious about the mystic powers all around the street, but mainly had his face in his phone. Raph and Michael were excited about everything and chatting excitedly. Leo was a nervous wreck. This was the first time he ventured anywhere without his mother, sister, or bodyguard. He had his little medic pouch stuffed with things he might need, and had his casted arm in a sling around his neck. He wouldn’t be very useful in a fight, so he had to run support.

“Come on Leo! Keep up!”

Leo nervously laughed and ran to his brothers. Raph actually lifted Leo onto his shoulder and ran with Donnie and Mikey. Leo’s laughter rang out into the street and caught the attention of many yokai.

Many of whom were friendly with the young Nexus master and others who feared the wrath of the crime warlord Big Mama. Leo stopped laughing as he realized whose territory they were running into. His face grew into a grin. Eventually his brothers stopped running and looking around.

Donnie: “Raph, I can’t believe you got us lost.”

Raph: “I did not!”

“Don’t worry guys, I know where we are! Señor Piel!”

Leo’s sudden yelling made someone walk over, but it wasn’t the Capitan of the S.S Alexis. It was the lizard yokai Rick.

“What the hell are you four doing out here?!”

“Hi Rick! Is this your day off from the Battle Nexus?”

“Something like that. Is your mother with you?”

“Not today.”

Leo went on to tell them of their adventure so far with Rick glancing around repeatedly. He escaped the Battle Nexus when he was escorted to his cell when he fought with Leonardo. He’d been hiding out in the shipyard for the two weeks he’d been free.

“Well you should head back. You don’t want to stay out too late. It’s dangerous for kids.”

“Rick, do you want to join us for ice cream?”

“No I -”

Leonardo’s eyes widened and his grin broadened. Raph gathered Mikey and Donnie and pulled them away slowly.

“But Rick, I insist. There’s a really nice ice cream and fro-yo parlor by Run of The Mill. I highly recommend you accompany us.”

“What’s in it for me?”

Rick would be lying if the manic glint in the twelve year old’s eyes didn’t scare him.

“Free icecream and immunity from my mother's wrath.”

“Deal.”

Leo lost his crazed expression and handed him a cloaking broach.

“I got some for you guys too!”

Leo pulled out three more broaches and pinned them to their shirts. Leo led the charge through the Hidden City and out to New York. Raph’s human disguise had dark brown skin, very short black hair, and his yellow eyes stayed the same. Donnie had light brown skin with his purple markings hidden under his clothes, chocolate brown dreads, and his awesome brown (left) and green (right) eyes. Mickey had smooth brown skin, curly brown hair, his adorable gap tooth, and his bright brown eyes.

Leo’s disguise remained the same, but his hair was longer, the red streaks in his hair were brighter, and his casted arm was in its place. Rick’s disguise was cool. Tanned skin, heavily scarred from his time in the Battle Nexus, a goatee, thin glasses, his obsidian colored eyes, the colorful band aids from Leo’s medic pouch, his black jeans, his gray shirt, his leather jacket, and his boots. He looked like a really cool biker.

“C’mon Rick! This way!”

Leo held Rick’s hand to lead (read force) him to the parlor. It was called “Mystic Treats.” It was run by a nice old man called Hubert; he’s an ice yokai. The beauty of the location was that it was close to his mom’s boutique. Leo walked into the parlor with Rick. Leo shoved his brothers and signed to them quickly.

“Get Mom.”

The parlor was being robbed by two yokai. One looked like a bear and the other a meerkat. They both had guns and ski masks. Leo jumped when a gun was pointed at him. Leo could see his brother running away, toward the hotel in his peripheral vision before his broken arm was grabbed and yanked into the bear yokai’s arms.

“Young Master?!”

If Leo could facepalm, he would.

“I know you.”

“Yeah, if you don’t let me go now, my mother is going to kill you. You already hurt my already broken arm.”

Leo glared at his captor, breathing heavily. His arm hurt like no tomorrow. It hurt less to have his arm actually be broken.

The bear started to yell at him but received a sharp right hook to the jaw. Rick caught Leo before he fell and deposited him on the other side of the counter with Mr. Hubert.

“This won’t take long, brat. Stay there.”

Leo covered his ears the best he could and hunched behind the counter. He could hear the sounds of breaking bones and blood hitting the ground, and it made him was to vomit.

“That is quite enough of that.”

The parlor was quickly flooded with Nexus Security and the blood cleaned up. The two robbers were apprehended.

“Baby-shell, where are you?”

“Brat, you can come out now.”

When Leo’s head didn’t pop up from behind the counter, Rick looked and saw hee wasn’t there.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

<~>

Leo was walking. He didn’t know where, but he couldn’t stop. He didn’t even know where he was. One moment he was wishing to be anywhere else than the parlor, the next he was on his back on soft white sand. There was pretty white sand, gorgeous blue water, and colorful coral reefs. He tried using his phone, but it wasn’t working. No signal.

Tears started to prick at his eyes, he just wanted to go home. He decided to wade through the water a bit, take some pictures and collect some shells for his brothers and sister. A neon blue portal opened beneath his feet and he was now falling. This time he did throw up. He deactivated his broach and hid in his shell. When he fell into somebody’s arms, he stayed in his, terrified of where he was now. Soothing rubs to his shell lured his head out of his shell a bit. He was in Señor Hueso’s arms.

“Pepino, are you alright?”

The dam burst and Leo sobbed into Hueso’s chest. When Leo was calm enough to explain, he did. Hueso was genuinely impressed that his little Pepino found his mystic power so early in life. Most yokai didn’t find it until they were at least twenty to forty. But the way Leo told the story he wasn’t aware of what he did. He fed Leo some garlic knots and comforted him until he fell asleep.

“Perdóneme, I’d like to speak to Señora Nexus.”

Some fumbling from the other line until Big Mama’s barely concealed frantic tone answered him.

“Señora, I have Pepino here with me. I think -”

“Oh thank stars.”

A weird purple-pink portal opened in his office and Big Mama rushed through. Leo was gently gathered in her arms as small tears ran down her face.

“Mama?”

“Yes Baby-shell, I’m right here.”

“Señora, a word?”

“Yes, of course. What is it?”

“I believe Pepino has come into his mystic power.”

“Pardon?”

“He portaled into my office, from the ceiling, and fell into my arms. I don’t think he knows though. He was tucked into his shell and was terrified.”

“Well…I always knew he was special.”

“As did I. Stop by for dinner one of these days. I’d be happy to serve your family a meal, free of charge.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate you taking care of Leonardo.”

Leonardo was taken back to the hotel where his brother’s and sister were freaking out and panicking. Even Godrick was pacing back and forth. Rick was leaning against the wall, having yet to deactivate his broach. When Big Mama walked through the lounge door with Leonardo passed out in her arms, there was a collective breath of relief.

Run of The Mill Pizzeria gained a pretty substantial donation within the days afterward.

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