Family is Forever

Hypno Part Deux: Part 1

{A/N: Photo above is Aria's dress for the dance}

Aria's POV:

Tonight is the night of April's school dance, and she asked me to come with her as a plus one. I would've loved to have brought Donnie, but he and Mikey promised Todd they'd help him at his puppy rescue tonight, so plan B. April, Mayhem & I are standing outside the school as she gives herself a pep talk.

April: "You can do this. You've fought monsters, been to hidden cities, destroyed robots, you've-Oh, who am I kidding? School dances are way more dangerous."

Me: "That's why we girls need to stick together. I got your back, O'Neil."

April dons a small smile in thanks.

April: "Thanks, Ari. Time for you to jet, Mayhem. I can't be like Siegel the Lizard Boy. I gotta be cool."

Mayhem nods in understanding and teleports to April's apartment as I lead her into the school. Along the way, we run into one of April's classmates.

Dale: "Hey, April! Who's your friend?"

April: "Dale, this is Aria. So, you going to this shindig? I usually wouldn't really go to one of these dances, but I actually got invited by Taylor Martin, to sit at the cool kid's table ,and she said I could bring a plus one. So-"

Dale: "She invited me too!"

April: "Oh, I thought she just invited me, but I guess you got invited too. That's cool. Cool."

Judging by the look on April's face, she's disappointed that she wasn't the only one Taylor invited. We walk into the decorated auditorium to find everyone glued to their phones when a girl walks up to us.

Taylor: "April, Dale! And-Uh, who are you?"

Me: "Aria."

Taylor: "Great! So glad you came. Sit! We were all just talking about the most amazing new game: Hippo Crush."

Students: *zombie-like* "So fun."

Taylor: "Have you played it yet?"

April: "Uh, I've been meaning to download it."

Taylor: "How are we gonna be besties if don't have the game?"

Uh, weird, but it is high school. Dale holds up his phone to show that he's downloaded it, and April tries to do the same. However, a recorded image of Donnie appears on her screen.

Recording: "Donnie says no, no, no."

Me: "Uh, could you excuse us a second?"

I lead April out to the hallway as she calls Donnie for an explanation on speaker.

Donnie: "You are conversing with Donatello."

April: "What is a 'Donnie Blocker'?"

Donnie: "I put it on your phone so you wouldn't get hacked or download anything with malware because I know how much you're into fantasy-"

April: "The only thing Donnie's blocking is April from being cool!"

Me: "Don't mind her, Handsome. It's just peer pressure. See you tonight."

Donnie ends the call as the doors burst behind us, and a group of kids walk toward another room.

Me: "Uh, are dances usually this short-lived?"

April: "Beats me. Dale, what's going on? Hey, did Taylor tell us to go somewhere? Cool, cool, cool. We're coming."

April follows after Dale while I notice Mayhem standing atop the lockers.

Me: *whispers* "Mayhem, get Leo & Raph. We might need help on this."

Mayhem nods as he teleports to the lair. I rush to catch up to the other students as a voice echoes from the shadows.

Hypno: "Everyone, give it up for the master magician, and inventor of Hippo Crash. Ta-da! Hypno-Potamus!"

Hypno appears onstage in a puff of smoke.

April: "Mutant hippo? Ari, you know him?"

Me: "Sort of. Long story, tell you later."

Hypno: "That bitter biscuit, Noah Sheck. Ooh, he made a middle school disappear. Well, forget that hack. I'm telling you. Tonight, I'm gonna make a high school disappear, starting with this mascot!"

Hypno uses ropes to pull the school mascot to hover onstage over his hat.

Hypno: "Behold the awesome functionality of my hats of doom."

Me: "He's going to use his magic hats to make everyone disappear. Permanently. We gotta get out of here."

April and I head for the door, but the spotlight shines on us, so we do robotic poses and voices.

April & I: "We want to serve you."

April: "Aw, forget it. That's whack."

Me: "Yeah. Later!"

We both rush out the door, no doubt running from Hypno's army of tech-obsessed zombies. We find an abandoned room to hide in, but Taylor barges in after us.

Taylor: "April, Aria, it's your BFF Taylor. I just wanna hang."

We shut them into the room and run into more students. Luckily, Raph & Leo ride in on a parade vehicle to save the day. Leo's wearing a basketball player outfit, Raph's wearing that of a football player, and Mayhem's wearing that of a cheerleader.

Leo: "Oh, is this AP Bio?"

Me: "Perfect timing, guys."

April: "Drive!"

April and I hop in as we ride away from the zombies.

Raph: "Where's the exit?"

Me: "Not just yet, Raph. Hypno's going to make the school and its students disappear."

Leo: "Another school is gonna disappear? These magicians are out of control."

April: "He's got doom-hats hidden all over the school, but it's gonna be fine. I've got a plan."

Raph hits the brakes in front of Hypno's auditorium.

April: "You gotta break Hypno's spell and free my friends.-*pauses*-Ok, acquaintances. Just free everybody."

April drives off as I pull Leo over for a quick sidebar.

Me: "Once this is over, you need to make good on our deal."

{A/N: See Mascot Melee for those of you who are confused}

Leo: "You didn't forget?"

Me: "Nope. Think of it this way. Homecoming dance, music, dim lighting, the chance to sweep April off her feet like the champion you are."

Leo dons a confident grin with a nod as we burst through the auditorium doors.

TO BE CONTINUED