Chapter Text
“You are the most powerful mystic warrior the world has ever known.”
“With those two hands you sent back in time.”
Ever since Casey Junior (CJ) spoke those words to him, they were all Mikey could ever think about.
He was the most powerful mystic warrior! Well, not right now… but in the future he is! And that's got to count for something, Mikey told himself.
However, the longer Mikey contemplates those words, the more concerned he becomes. He knows himself. And he knows he’d never send his friend/nephew/kid-he-helped-raise-in-the-future into the past on a critical mission alone unless there was no other choice. So, he concludes that his future self must have a reason why CJ was sent alone.
After spending time with CJ, Mikey believed he figured out why his future self wasn’t here. He’d seen the grief-stricken look that CJ has when he thinks Mikey isn’t looking.
Mikey assumes he must’ve died right after opening the portal to send CJ to the past, or maybe killed while doing it.
Mikey didn’t know for sure. And honestly, he didn’t have the time or the courage to ask CJ about his own demise. They barely got to know the kid before all hell broke loose.
Well… Not like any of that was important now that Leo was stuck in the Prison Dimension with their worst enemy.
An enemy they couldn’t defeat. Only contain.
By Leo sacrificing himself.
Mikey stood with his other two brothers staring at the bright explosion in the sky in silence. Behind him, Mikey can see Donnie staring despairingly at the sky with tears in his eyes. Soon, Donnie’s tears stream down his face, and Mikey turns sharply away, not wanting to see his usually stoic brother grieve over their twin.
Looking back at the sky, Mikey's tears gathered in his own eyes, and he started to feel overcome with hopelessness. He didn’t want to give up on Leo.
Leo never gave up on them, so why should Mikey?
But what could he do?
CJ’s words rang in Mikey’s head again, and an idea formed.
Of course! A portal could work. Not one through time, just through space.
A portal to the Prison Dimension.
Can’t be too hard if my future self could do it, right? Mikey thought, and it’s not like I’m also attempting time travel. Maybe I’ll be fine?
However, if opening a portal was the only way to save his brother and it did kill him, Mikey honestly couldn’t think of a more honourable death than saving his brother's life.
Mikey didn’t know how he’d do it, but he’d do anything to save his family, even if it meant paying the ultimate price. Leo is worth it, regardless of the consequences.
Mind made up and with tears streaming down his face, Mikey stretched out his arms in front of himself. At first, nothing happened before he could feel mystic energy surge through him, building in his hands, crawling down his fingertips. It tingled.
Nothing showed yet, but he could feel it—he was close.
Come on, please, he begged. Just a little more. I need to save Leo…
Donnie shouted something, and a hand clutched his shoulder. Their nails were digging into his skin in desperation for Mikey to stop, but he barely registered it. He shrugged it off, spared Donnie a glance, and shouted back. Tears streamed freely down his face.
“Leo never gave up on us. I’m not giving up on him!”
Donnie stepped back, arms cradled over his chest. Donnie brings a hand up to wipe his tears as Raph approaches and pulls Donnie into a hug.
Both looked hollowed out with grief.
Mikey quickly turned away. He couldn’t look at them. Not while they were already mourning Leo.
Like they gave up , Mikey thought darkly. He let his grief, desperation, and doubt fuel his power, throwing all his emotions into the mystic energy he’s gathering.
He wouldn't give up.
Not even if this is the last thing he ever did.
Save Leo, save Leo, save Leo… he repeated, a mantra to block out the fear.
Abruptly, brilliant yellow mystic energy erupted before him, surrounding him, causing him to glow. It radiated heat and power. Mikey felt it wash over him, warming every inch of his body and soul.
The feeling was powerful, euphoric. It was a feeling that was similar to when he got injured and Donnie gave him pain medication through an IV. Both made him warm and fuzzy on the inside, dulling his pain.
He felt like he could do anything, be anything.
For just a moment, he felt pure bliss. The pain, the fear, it all vanished.
Suddenly, a yellow energy sphere appeared, and strange-looking scars formed. Bright yellow cracks race across his arm and hands. From those cracks, wispy black and yellow energy seeped out and swirled, mixing with the golden light, feeding a growing yellow orb in front of him.
Watching the dark energy dance across his arms, Mikey felt a deep sense of foreboding. His body was slowly being broken down, chipping away to feed the growing sphere in front of him.
Like switching a switch, the euphoria instantly vanished when the black energy appeared, and stabbing pain took its place.
His hands felt like they were submerged in hot oil. Through the haze of tears, he watched the scars spread up past his elbows. The pain followed them, making him wince.
He whimpered. But he persevered and held on.
Save Leo. Just save Leo.
Shouts echoed behind him. Donnie and Raph, maybe? Mikey ignored them; he couldn’t stop now. Not when he was so close
In front of him, the golden orb opened, breaking reality itself. Inside, past the golden shimmering energy, the warped prison dimension could be seen.
Large rocks and various Technodome pieces were floating around.
...With a familiar blue-masked turtle floating toward them.
Mikey stared in stunned disbelief.
Leo.
His eyes welled up again, this time with relief.
Leo wasn’t home yet, but he looked alive. Breathing and whole.
Mikey had done it. He’d opened the portal. And he didn’t die doing it. Well… there goes that theory about Future Mikey dying opening the portal, he thought. He was kinda glad to be wrong about that. He was so worried that he’d never get to see Leo again. Hug Leo again.
He watched Leo and smiled at the thought of yelling at him later for his reckless, noble idiocy. He was just so overjoyed that this worked.
He opened a portal.
Maybe he already is the best mystic warrior in the world.
In the blink of an eye, Donnie and Raph appeared at Mikey’s sides, looking into the portal with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Mikey turned his gaze back towards Leo, so glad that they would soon be all together again.
Although his body started to feel heavy. Mikey tried to shake it off, but he was far more tired than a few moments ago.
He blinked slowly, limbs shaking. He was barely aware of what was happening anymore. He was so tired, it was getting hard to stay standing.
Raph extended a glowing mystic hand into the portal for Leo to grab, while Donnie sprinted through in a blur of purple, mystic drill spinning and ready to strike the monster behind Leo that Mikey was just now noticing. Most of his focus is on keeping the portal open.
His knees buckled, and Mikey crumpled to the ground with his arms still up, unseen and unheard behind his brothers. He sat on his knees, arms shaking badly as he held them stretched in front of himself. No matter how tired he was, he wasn’t closing the portal.
Noise roared from the portal. Mikey forced his head to turn, but his vision was getting dark in the corners. He felt like he was going to break apart if he kept pushing. Nevertheless, he persevered on.
Leo’s gaze met his.
Leo didn’t smile.
He always smiled at Mikey. Why wasn’t he smiling?
Instead, Leo looked scared, and he wasn’t even looking at Mikey’s face.
He was staring at Mikey’s arms.
Mikey looked down.
Oh…
The yellow scars that are chipping pieces off of him have now reached his neck. Now that Mikey was aware of it, he could feel the mystic energy’s heat radiating around his throat.
The scars were thinner near the shoulders, but thick and burning hot near his hands. Black energy seeped out like smoke from the fractures, dissipating into the air now that the portal was fully formed.
And then, the cracks on his scales widened, burning him harshly. Splitting open about an inch thick, as yellow energy seeped faster from him. Mikey tried to ignore it and push through.
He had to hold the portal open.
“ Mikey! ”
Leo’s voice. So close now.
Leo was nearly through the portal, and thankfully, Donnie was right behind him.
“Mikey! Close the portal!” Donnie screamed.
Half slumped over, Mikey kept his hands raised as an innate instinctive feeling overcame him. Deciding to trust it, he traced an X in the air with his hands.
The portal collapsed just as Donnie passed through, both of them falling to the ground exhausted. Raph was quick to make his way of to them to hug them both, tears in his eyes with relief at seeing his blue-masked brother alive.
Mikey’s arms fell, and he crumpled the rest of the way to the ground. He was so tired.
Despite the burning hot pain he was feeling Mikey smiled in relief.
They’d saved Leo, saved New York City, and stopped the apocalypse from taking over the Earth.
They unbelievably did it.
This called for a celebration party. With so much pizza! Mikey turned to join his brothers in the hug and to tell them his plans when-
He felt it.
He stiffened and looked down.
His fingertips… were turning to glowing yellow dust that slowly dissipated into the air.
His feet now had large glowing scars, giving him a pins a needles feeling in his toes that were no longer there.
The cracks were everywhere.
Panic struck him, and he quickly turned toward his brothers.
If this was it, he needed to see them one last time.
It all made sense now. Mikey was unfortunately right. There was a reason why CJ arrived alone.
You can’t time-travel when you’re turning into dust.
Even though scared, he accepted his fate. If this was the cost to save his brother, Mikey was at peace with that.
Mikey took in each of his brothers' faces. Analyzing them like he was going to paint them.
Raph. The protector. The responsible one. Mikey remembered when they’d eaten too many poisonous pizza puffs, and Raph made the three of them get the antidote. Always herded them away from danger and kept them in line when they got too wild. He’d never admit it aloud, but he admired Raph more than anyone. The best eldest brother he could have asked for.
Donnie. The dramatic middle child with an iPad practically glued to his face since the age of 4. Mikey remembered when they dressed as millionaires to trick Repo-Mantis. Donnie committed hard to his role. He loved seeing Donnie’s theatrical side. Almost as much as seeing his inventions.
Leo. Fun. That was the only word that could describe Leo. They had so many inside jokes, dumb bets, and adventures. Too many favourites to choose from.
But maybe this moment, seeing Leo safe in Raph’s arms, was the best memory of him.
Eyes softening, he was going to miss them all dearly.
He didn’t look down again.
Burning hot pain hit him as the scars widened, pouring yellow dust into the air as he broke apart. He couldn’t feel his arms anymore.
He could tell it wouldn’t be long now.
In the sky, the dust was circling calmly in the air above him before it disappeared with the wind, like it wasn’t even there.
“I… I love you all so much. You’re the best brothers a little brother could ask for,” Mikey smiled as his family reached out, horror and realization dawning on their faces.
Leo, the fastest of his brothers, lunged. Hand outstretched, trying to get to him in time—
Mikey vanished in a soft cloud of mystic yellow dust right before Leo's hand reached him.
“MIKEY!”
He heard Leo screaming, and then he felt nothing as he ceased to exist.
Unfortunately, Leo wasn’t the only sacrificial idiot in his family.
Yellow and orange orbs of floating fire were all Mikey could see when he opened his eyes. He squinted his eyes and rubbed them with his hand, groaning before looking again.
Floating orbs of light, like little suns, drifted around him softly. Warm, glowing, and oh so beautiful. Groggily looking down, he saw that the ground was made of dirt. He blinked sleepily, touching the dirt lightly. It was soft like he was on a cushion.
The whole place felt very calm and peaceful. Mikey enjoyed the aura of this place and his picturesque surroundings.
However, a thought overcame him suddenly. How did he get here? And where were his brothers?
“You like it, don’t you? I know I do.”
A strange voice startled Mikey out of his thoughts, and he spun towards the sound. Getting up, he dropped quickly into a fighting stance, his sore body protesting every movement.
A cloaked figure stood before him, hooded and hunched-backed. Only grey hair and green bandaged arms and feet were visible beneath the brown and yellow trimmed robes.
“Whoa, whoa! Mini-me, relax. You’re safe.”
The figure raised his hands in peace. Yellow scars glowed across his skin, painfully familiar to his own. Now that he was more awake, he remembered the battle and his sacrifice to save Leo. Yet he still has no idea where he is or how he got here.
Mikey blinked. His arms still hurt. He looked down at them, and the scars seemed smaller, less noticeable and thankfully, the rest of his body was now scar-free.
“Who are you? Where am I?” Mikey growled. “What is this place?”
The stranger tilted their head, then lifted their feet and floated, positioning themselves into a perfect lotus pose midair.
Mikey's fighting stance faltered, and he stared up at them, astonished. “How are you doing that?”
“All very good questions. My name is Michelangelo. I’m you. From the future.”
With a flick of the stranger's wrist, the hood magically came down, uncovering their face. Face unmistakably his, just older with wrinkles and grey hair.
Mikey’s jaw dropped. He didn’t expect this. “What?!”
Future Mikey smiled gently. “I’ve been watching you ever since I opened the portal for Casey. Great job getting Leo back from the prison dimension, by the way. I don’t even know if I could’ve done that without practice.”
Mikey blushed slightly at the praise, but didn't respond and stayed wary.
Future Mikey’s face fell from the proud expression he held seconds ago, and he seemed to pace in the air. Going back and forward in front of Mikey.
“You see, I’ve been stuck here, in my mind-palace, ever since I sent CJ to the past. I used too much energy opening the portal.” His Future self hesitated slightly before continuing, “This place doesn’t let you replenish mystic energy. My mind-palace, the place we are now, is where I go when I meditate, and it should only be possible to visit here spiritually, never physically. But our bodies are here anyway, and now we cannot leave. This shouldn't be possible. You understand?”
Mikey nodded slowly, not fully comprehending everything. It was a lot to take in. It was nice to know that he wasn’t dead, but now it seems he has other issues. They can’t leave? Would he ever see his brothers again? This seemed like a fate that was worse than death.
Future Mikey stopped pacing in the air and hovered in front of Mikey, seeing his crestfallen expression. His future self then smirked cheekily before speaking, attempting to lighten the mood, “Although, opening a portal through time and to an unescapable prison dimension wasn’t supposed to be possible either.”
Mikey stood frozen, processing all this. That was true, so maybe the impossible could be accomplished?
Lost in thought, he didn’t notice his older self drop to his feet and suddenly grasped Mikey’s shoulders. Mikey flinched while a wide grin lit their face, “But now that you're here… There’s a way to leave.”
Mikey frowned, his brow furrowed. “How does me being here help us leave?”
Future Mikey stepped back, dropping his hand and looking away from him.
“Because I can give you the rest of my mystic energy. Enough to let you escape. You alone.”
“No! But that’ll—” Mikey was cut off.
“Kill me. Yes.”
Mikey recoiled. “No. No way. There has to be another way!”
“I’m not going to kill my older self. Th-That’s basically suicide!”
Tears shimmered in his older self’s eyes. “Please. You have to understand, you will be doing me a favour. I want to see them again. I miss my family so much.”
Tears streamed down Future Mikey’s face. The turtle looked tired . Exhausted even.
“It’s been years since I’ve seen Raph or Donnie, I miss them so much. Please”
Not the type of tired that could be fixed with rest, it was a lifelong tired. A tired that probably lingered with his future self ever since his first brother passed away.
Mikey looked away, he just couldn’t bear to see the sadness on their face.
He did understand. More than anyone, and that's what made this decision hard. Mikey knows he is nothing without his brothers, and he would do anything to be with them again. He understands that feeling all too well.
That level of desperation, he is all too familiar with. He wants to see his brothers again, just like his older self does.
And if he was being honest, if Mikey were in his older self's place, he would want someone to do the same for him.
He’d want someone to reunite him with his brothers, even if it happened to be a reunion in death.
They were the same.
“Please, Mikey.”
Mikey nodded slowly to himself, solidifying his decision. He didn’t want to do this. This was horrible. It was a fucked up situation.
Straightening his shoulders, Mikey strengthened his resolve to meet the elder's stare.
“Let’s do it.”
Even if it meant killing his future self, he was going to do whatever it took to see his brothers again.
That’s something both Mikeys are determined to do.
Time seemed non-existent in Future Mikey’s Mind-Palace, but if Mikey had to guess, he would say about an hour had gone by.
They’d talked. Cried. Hugged and cried some more.
Future Mikey explained the spell to him. It would involve a mind-meld while he transferred the power, and then his future self would perform the transportation spell. It seemed simple enough, but when Mikey asked if he’d be sent to the same place he disappeared from, Future Mikey hesitated.
“Well… Not exactly. You’ll go to a different dimension first. One with less mystic resistance. You’ll replenish slowly, then head home.”
Mikey’s heart dropped.
His brothers would think he was dead. He’d be in a whole other dimension, and they wouldn’t even know he was still alive. The plan seemed so simple a second ago. Why couldn’t he just be able to go home? Hasn’t he been through enough?
Future Mikey squeezed his hand. “I’m so sorry. I wish I knew where you’d land. Or how long it’ll take. All I know for sure is that this is the only way.”
Mikey nodded, looking at the ground. He’d get back. Even if it took a while, he was certain of it. It was going to be difficult, but there was nothing that could stop him from reaching his brothers.
Mikey thanked him quietly for his help, and they embraced once more.
“No, thank you, Mikey. You’re helping me get back to my family, too.” Future Mikey whispered into his neck during the hug. Mikey squeezed him before letting go, taking a breath.
“We should get started,” Mikey whispered after he pulled away. Too much has happened today, and he needs time to process all of this alone with Dr. Feelings. But for now, Mikey will compartmentalize all his emotions into a box to unpack later.
They both sat in the lotus position, meditating. Future Mikey reached over and placed his hands on the side of his younger self’s head, and touched his forehead with his own.
“Goodbye, Mikey. Good luck.”
Mystic energy released from Future Mikey and intricate symbols were burned onto his skin. Mikey looked down at the symbols on his arms before the mystic light surged.
Everything was bathed in light, and Mikey couldn’t see anything but bright yellow. He snapped his eyes shut, but the light was still so bright.
And then—
Darkness.
Mikey woke with a pounding headache . In an alley. Alone.
Great.
He rubbed his head and winced; his arms were sore, too. Draped over him was a brown cloak with a yellow trim, and he looked down at it, confused. Where did that come from?
He looked around the alleyway he found himself in.
Trash bags surrounded him, and glass shards were everywhere. Dogs barked in the distance, and the sky seemed darker than he remembered, at least the moon was out, illuminating his surroundings.
But Where was he?
He scaled the building beside him, still dizzy and muscles aching.
From the rooftop, the city looked like New York, but slightly off. Some of the buildings looked familiar, but were in the wrong places.
Suddenly, voices echoed from the alley he had just been in. Mikey crouched down low on the roof, trying to stay hidden.
“The scanner shows the energy burst happened this way.”
“Nothing here. This is a waste of time when we could actually be doing something useful. Like kicking Kraang ass!”
“Shut it, Raph. Just let me check!”
Four figures entered the alley. Mikey peeked down at them.
They were… Mutant turtles?
But not his brothers .
One had a blue mask.
It wasn’t Leo though.
He flinched, foot dragging against the roof gravel as his headache flared when he thought about Leo. Mikey felt like he was forgetting something very important.
The blue-masked turtle looked up at the faint noise, eyes locking with Mikey’s.
Then he reached for his swords.
The others turned to look, confused, alarmed.
Mikey stared back.
What is happening?