THE FOLLOWING IMAGE ABOVE BELONG TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNERS.

Chapter 5: A Change

The next morning, Mikey woke up to feel sore from his left shoulder from yesterday's incident. He started to walk towards the kitchen to at least start breakfast right away for his family, but he see his family all awake and eating breakfast.

"Morning Mikey/Michelangelo," said his family. Mikey softly smile as he was walking toward the refrigerator. He was about to start cooking when Donnie asked "I don't think is a good idea to cook Mikey, your left shoulder needs to heal."

"I'll just use my other hand instead and besides I am only gonna cook some eggs." Mikey pointed out as he was grabbing the frying pan to start cooking.

"Donnie just leave him be, he just has to learn it the hard way," Raph said as he was drinking some orange.

Donnie sighed as he let me cook for just this once while I was injured. When I was done making myself breakfast, I sat down at the table with everyone before I could eat I start to think deeply.

" What did that figure mean by " You'll know soon"? I don't know what I could do, I need to get to the bottom of this." Mikey thought as he was looking at his food, when he looked up his family was staring at him.

"Michelangelo, is something the matter?" Splinter question as he held his cup of tea.

"Um no, I am alright just a little tired today," Mikey said as he smile and then started to eat breakfast.

A few minutes went by when the four turtles were in the dojo with their mutant rat father as he began to discuss yesterday. The three brothers explained how Mikey was lacking during battle and just goofing around which made Mikey feel remorse. Once Splinter understood what happened he suddenly made a glace to Mikey, " Michelangelo, you know when you're on a mission I expect you to take it seriously and not fool around."

Mikey looked down as he nodded before Master Splinter said "Which is why you are staying in the lair to train more and to learn from your mistakes."

"But Splinter-" Mikey said.

Splinter raised his hand and said, "It is for the best." Mikey was looking down and gripping his fist, he noticed his brothers smile a little, mostly Raph. It made Mikey upset knowing that he can't go to the surface with his brothers until he earns it back; But before Mikey could argue back Splinter noted that the trio would also need extra training and clean the kitchen as punishment for not watching Mikey, even the lack of communication needed to be improved.

The trio's mouth dropped and groan as Raph began to make a glance at Mikey then said under his breath "thanks a lot, Mikey." Mikey felt guilty for his three brothers having to do extra training and cleaning because of him. Right after the four turtles received their punishment Splinter then asked " Now Michelangelo, it seems you have an explanation about what happened yesterday."

Before Mikey could tell his family what happened until he thought, "Why should I bring more problems to my family when my brothers just got punishment because of me. I need to know who that strange figure from yesterday and from my dream as well.."

"I know what I need to do!"

He created this lie of how he found the purple dragons harming a poor woman near the sewers so he had to save them from danger and that one of the dragons cut his left shoulder when they attack him. And how he was thrown into the water. As Splinter said to Michelangelo that he did the honor of saving someone in danger with kindhearted but he should have contacted his brothers next time instead of doing it solo. Once that was resolved the brothers began their training.

The figure was floating behind the dojo door looking at Michelangelo smirking a bit "Oh my, maybe this won't be so bad after all." It laughs a little then transform into a purple butterfly to flutter away...

Once the three brothers were done training to then headed to the kitchen to start cleaning as part of their punishment, Mikey was still in the dojo to do extra training and learn the same fight move again and again until he couldn't fight anymore. It was getting him tired left and right but Mikey was willing to earn back his position on the team so he can go to the surface again and make his brothers proud. Once he was done, his father and his bow dismiss him to go get something to drink but before he could reach the kitchen he heard his brothers and hid behind the wall.

He forgot that his brothers were cleaning the kitchen as punishment, he could hear his brothers complaining and how it suck that they are stuck doing the dirty work.

"Why can't we just go to our patrol already instead of doing the dirty work," Raphael complained as he was cleaning the table.

"I know, I want to go see April but here I am in the lair doing our dirty work and because of Mikey," Donnie said as he was scrubbing the floor.

"Guys let's just shut up and clean okay?" Leo said as he was cleaning the dishes.

Mikey felt guilty and was thinking of helping them out before he could step into the kitchen.

"At least Mikey won't come to patrol so we can FINALLY get Shredder gang without any distractions," Raphael said once putting the chairs away.

Mikey stop and return to the wall again and was trying his hardest to stay strong and not shed a tear. Then he heard his brothers start saying how Mikey should learn from his mistake instead of being one, how he needs to become a real ninja instead of being a useless screw-up. Donnie was laughing a little and Leo could agree as well, Raph started mocking Mikey on how he acts in battle which made Leo laugh hard.

Mikey was crying softly and feeling pain in his heart, wanting to comfort them face to face but he was shaking a bit and started to head to his room, crying his pillow for ten minutes to then looking at his stuff around his room.

His pranks box, his comic books, and his drawings then he grab everything and began to put everything away under his bed to then see the teddy bear he once received from Raph when they were kids to then put it in the box, hiding away the things he loves most about him.

I can never be the same turtle they once knew...

I can't be myself...

I need to change for the better...

Mikey was returning to his bed letting out his emotions, holding him to dear life. How much he wishes his family would love him for who he is and not see him as a joke or a problem.

Three days later, everything was different although things were still the same with my extra training and crying over and over again... I begin to ignore my brothers completely of how much they badly hurt me from the inside and started to eat less because of before my brothers use to make fun of my weight through and through. They don't seem to care nor acknowledge me after, they seem to be happy that I'm not bugging them anymore which is no surprise to me either...

I assumed it was another day of training and as usual, my brothers were heading out for their patrol again to then hang out with April and Casey which I miss seeing them. I was bowing to Splinter as he was heading to his room to meditate. I went to the kitchen to pet the Ice Cream kitty, at least she was understanding my pain and made me smile, I was stroking her head as I greeted her like every normal day.

The figure was looking at Michelangelo and began to walk toward him slowly to then revealing his form.

Tap

I was telling Ice Cream kitty goodnight as always then closed the fridge to then grabbed a frying pan to start making some eggs for dinner.

Tap

Mikey started to hum a little when he turned around to see the figure standing in front of him.

TAP

"Hello, Michelangelo," it said with a deep, scratchy voice.

Mikey scream in horror as the figure was laughing at him, he then grabs the frying pan and hit the figure's head quickly then knocking him out.

The figure collapsed to the ground, butterflies flying around his head to show that he is unconscious, Mikey was holding the frying pan to breathe heavily in fear wondering what just happened.